Nixtontapes.org

Image
Photo, Nixon standing with Lyndon Johnson, 1971, NARA
Annotation

In February 1971 to July 1973, President Richard Nixon secretly began recording phone conversations and meetings, compiling thousands of hours of tape. Created in 2007 by a Texas A&M University history professor, this website intends to provide "the most complete digitized Nixon tape collection in existence."

At present, only a fraction of the recordings are available. Visitors may listen to MP3 versions of over 500 conversations organized by primary conversation participant; 29 conversations organized by topic themes; and more than 2,000 hours of conversations organized by the date of their release to the general public.

Though the site promises that all recordings will eventually be accompanied by full transcripts, accompanying material is spotty. Some recordings are accompanied by corresponding entries from the presidential daily diary, some by general outlines of the recording's topics, and a handful by full transcripts. The recordings vary in quality, from fully audible to inaudibly faint or noise-obscured.

The website is not searchable (the search engine on the home page searches the web at large). As it stands, it may be useful to educators as a casual introduction to the recordings for students, but locating specific content (to accompany lesson plans or complement events being taught in class) would require significant time.

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The Sixties in Historical Perspective

Description

From the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History:

"This seminar will explore a controversial era shrouded in myths and memories. Among the topics it will examine are the presidencies of John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon; the civil rights movement; the Vietnam War; the New Left; the counterculture; the women's movement; the gay movement; the conservative movement; the international dimension of youth protest; and the legacies of the 1960s. The aim of the seminar is to provide a balanced history of a turbulent time that continues to influence American politics, society, and culture.

Contact email
seminars@gilderlehrman.org
Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Phone number
6463669666
Target Audience
K-12
Start Date
Cost
Free, $400 stipend
Course Credit
"The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is proud to announce its agreement with Adams State College to offer three hours of graduate credit in American history to participating seminar teachers. Teachers are required to submit a reflection paper and a copy of one primary source activity completed during or immediately after the seminar."
Duration
One week
End Date
Website
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/education/seminar.php?seminar_id=10

The American Presidency II: Johnson to the Present

Description

"This course is an examination of the political and constitutional development of the office of president from Reconstruction to the present. It focuses on how changing conceptions of the presidency have shaped American political life in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially as America has become a global power."

Contact email
info@TeachingAmericanHistory.org
Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Ashbrook Center, TeachingAmericanHistory.org
Phone number
1 419-289-5411
Target Audience
Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade
Start Date
Cost
None ($500 stipend)
Course Credit
"Teachers may choose to receive two hours of Master's degree credit from Ashland University. This credit can be used toward the new Master of American History and Government offered by Ashland University or may be transfered to another institution. The two credits will cost $440."
Duration
Six days
End Date
Website
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/institutes/2008/633.html
Watergate and the Constitution aharmon Tue, 04/20/2010 - 16:19
Teaser

To indict or not to indict? Watergate raised complicated questions concerning Constitutional interpretation.

lesson_image
Website
National Archives
Description

Students analyze a primary source document which sets forth points both for and against the indictment of Richard Nixon, before considering Constitutional interpretations of Watergate.

Article Body

The strength of this lesson is that it is centered around a document which presents compelling arguments both for and against the indictment of former President Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal. The featured document, a memo to the Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski, was written by Jaworski's staff as he was considering whether or not to indict Nixon.

The memorandum’s language should be accessible to most high school students. Both a copy of the original document and a transcribed version are available.

The question at the center of the lesson is, "Should the Watergate Special Prosecutor seek an indictment of the former President?" If teachers want to make this lesson more of an historical inquiry, we recommend modifying that question to read: "What were the main arguments for and against the indictment of former President Richard Nixon?"

An additional strength of this lesson is two activities that use the Constitution as a lens to understand the Watergate affair. One of the suggested activities asks students to identify the specific role each branch of government played in the Watergate affair. Another activity asks students to apply specific sections of the Constitution and determine the role particular constitutional powers and rights played in the Watergate affair.

This lesson would likely work best after an introductory lesson on Watergate. While there is no formal assessment included in this lesson, the questions presented by the document easily lend themselves to an essay or a discussion.

Topic
Watergate, the Constitution
Time Estimate
1 day
flexibility_scale
3
Rubric_Content_Accurate_Scholarship

Yes
Historical background is detailed and accurate. The document is from The National Archives.

Rubric_Content_Historical_Background

Yes
Th lesson includes background information for teachers and students, as well as a chronology of the Watergate affair.

Rubric_Content_Read_Write

Yes
The lesson is centered around a primary document from the Watergate scandal, and requires students to read the Constitution.

Rubric_Analytical_Construct_Interpretations

Yes
Students are asked to weigh the reasons for and against indicting Nixon.

Rubric_Analytical_Close_Reading_Sourcing

Yes

Rubric_Scaffolding_Appropriate

Yes
The main document is appropriate and accessible for most high school students, as are the teaching activities.

Rubric_Scaffolding_Supports_Historical_Thinking

Yes
The lesson includes the Archives' worksheet for analyzing primary source documents, asking students to consider source and contextual information when interpreting the document.

Rubric_Structure_Assessment

No

Rubric_Structure_Realistic

Yes
The lesson is clearly presented and is easily adapted to emphasize either History or Civic standards.

Rubric_Structure_Learning_Goals

Yes
Appropriate for one class period.

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