Watergate Plus 30 Analysis

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The documentary entitled, Watergate Plus 30: Shadow of History, documents the political decisions and environment within the Nixon Administration from 1969-1974. The documentary specifically details and describes the environment and culture in which the Watergate scandal could occur and the events and abuses of power that lead to its occurrence. Setting the tone and the political climate of the Nixon Administration was the Vietnam War; making him a wartime President, a war that he inherited from his predecessor. The Vietnam War faced a lot of opposition from the general public, with massive protests and political demonstrations by the younger generations and overall general public. Nixon’s presidency was surrounded by this climate amidst the …show more content…

While he used these characteristics to persuade others to act illegal and conduct crimes, he still modeled the characteristics of an exemplar leader which include: modeling the way; inspiring a shared vision; challenging the process; enabling others to act; and encouraging the heart (Kouzes & Posner, 2006). He set the example of how he wanted his administration and those that worked directly with/under him to act. He employed and persuaded others to behave and act in a “by any means necessary” manner. This can be seen from the documentary which details and shows how those closest to him and the Plumbers acted and thought in a manner that was modeled by President Nixon. He further inspired a shared vision by uniting his followers to believe that they were working to keep confidential information safe, that other governmental agencies could not be trusted, and united his follower to believe in his purpose and vision for the country. According to Kouzes and Posner (2006), “leadership is the ability to move people, to change their minds and hearts and actions” (Kouzes & Posner, 2006, p. 67). This is evident within the documentary on which some of those involved in these covert affairs were described as Christian men with good values and hearts, whom never participated in the women, alcohol and corruption that surrounds

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