Presidency of Richard Nixon: Election of 1972

Nixon swept the election of 1972 in dominating fashion, earning his second term in office. However, the election was not without controversy, as soon after, news of the Watergate Scandal began to spread.

In order to help provide background on this event or assess comprehension, students will use a spider map to show the 5 Ws of the election of 1972 (who, what, when, where, and why). Through this activity, students will be able to understand how Nixon achieved re-election, how the re-election was marred by the emerging scandal, and analyze how these things worked in tandem.

Extended Activity

Have students create a spider map detailing major terminology of the 1972 election. Students should examine major terms such as Watergate, the Democratic National Convention, as well as major figures of the election, including members of Nixon’s staff and perpetrators of the Watergate scandal. This will provide students with a deeper understanding of the event as well as historical context, and allows students to better discuss Nixon's presidency.