American Scandals
I. Introduction:
a. Thesis: How do American speeches reflect scandals that rest among the United States government as well as other global entities?
II. In 1969, one of the main scandals that an American official (Ted Kennedy) was faced with was the Chappaquiddick scandal.
a. “He was reelected to the Senate the following year. Nevertheless, unanswered questions about the cause of the tragedy seriously undermined Kennedy's desirability as a national candidate. In addition, Kennedy lost his bid to be reelected majority whip in the Senate.”
b. “He was reelected to the Senate the following year. Nevertheless, unanswered questions about the cause of the tragedy seriously undermined Kennedy's desirability as a national candidate.”
c. “Public doubts about Kennedy's ability and character haunted him throughout his career…”
III. Edward Kennedy addresses his supporters about the Chappaquiddick incident through his use of reconciliation and apology.
a. “There is no truth, no truth whatever, to the widely circulated suspicions of immoral conduct that have been leveled at my behavior and hers regarding that evening.”
b. “I regard as indefensible the fact that I did not report the accident to the police immediately.”
c. “For this reason, I would understand full well why some might think it right for me to resign. For me, this will be a difficult decision to make.”
IV. In 1973, Richard Nixon had to address the Watergate scandal which was a major dispute
a. “It was soon revealed that at least some of the burglars were Cubans active in the anti-Fidel Castro movement in the United States.”
b. “Some also had ties to people in the presidential administration of Richard Nixon or to Nixon's campaign organization, the Committee to Re-elect the President.”
c. “On July 27, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted three articles of impeachment against Nixon. As further damning tapes were made public, it became clear that the whole House of Representatives would vote to impeach the president and that the Senate would most likely vote to remove him from office.”
V. Richard Nixon debriefs the citizens of the US on the Watergate scandal and what they should believe.
a. “The inevitable result of these charges has been to raise serious questions about the integrity of the White House itself. Tonight I wish to address those questions.”
b. As the investigations went forward, I repeatedly asked those conducting the investigation whether there was any reason to believe that members of my Administration were in any way involved. I received repeated assurances that there were not.
c. “I was determined that we should get to the bottom of the matter, and that the truth should be fully brought out—no matter who was involved.”
VI. In 1987, the Iran Arms and Contra Aids Controversy was a big issue brought forth strait from the oval office from President Reagan.
a. The Iran-contra scandal broke in the fall of 1986 when a Middle Eastern newspaper revealed that members of U.S. President Ronald Reagan's administration had secretly sold military parts and ammunition to Iran.
b. In exchange, the Iranian government was to help free several U.S. citizens who were being held hostage by pro-Iranian groups.
c. Also known as the arms-for-hostages deal, the operation was managed by a subgroup of the National Security Council, under Reagan's direct control.