The Watergate scandal refers to the break-in and electronic bugging of the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate Hotel in 1972. This break-in led to a series of discoveries about the Nixon administration and a laundry list of people involved in covering up this and related scandals. The inquiry and hearings on this matter led to the firing or resignation of many in the Nixon administration, including President Nixon. The following photographs illustrate the story of the Watergate scandal. View this essay
President Richard M. Nixon was elected in 1968 during a time of great division in the United States. The turbulent 1960s left the nation torn on issues such as the Vietnam War, civil rights, and superpower relations. During Nixon's time in office, he managed to end the fighting in Vietnam and improve relations with China and the Soviet Union. However, the Watergate scandal fueled the division of the nation, ultimately leading to Nixon's resignation in August 1974. The following photographs were taken by U.S.News & World Report staffers during the Nixon presidency. View this essay
Consumption of oil in the 1970s rose sharply from previous decades. The majority of working Americans now drove cars to work; after years of unlimited oil usage, there was no little thought of conservation. After the United States aided Israel during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries imposed an oil embargo on the United States and raised the price of oil to its European allies. The country was in a state of near panic. President Nixon called upon Americans to ration their oil consumption. Gas stations ceased Sunday sales and were asked to limit sales to 10 gallons per customer. This dramatic attention to oil consumption brought about a new era of environmental awareness, from production of smaller cars to research for alternative energy sources. The following photos illustrate the gas crisis of the early 1970s. View this essay
