The 1970s and Decline in American Trust
By Kylee Downey
Why do so few Americans trust their government? This question became the basis of my undergraduate research, with my original intent being to analyze the current political state of the country. Upon further investigation, I came across a poll from the Pew Research Center that recorded the percentage of Americans who trust the government “to do what is right just about always/most of the time.”[1] While this average has continued to fluctuate throughout the past decades, what caught my attention was the intense drop that occurred between 1964 and 1974. What caused trust in the government to drop 40% in a singular decade, and why was this relationship never able to be mended?
The Vietnam War forever changed how Americans saw overseas conflict. Often referred to as “the living room war”, Vietnam was reported on day after day. This exposure forced Americans to witness the horrors that came from war as the death toll continued to climb. The administration became locked in this war for years, refusing to admit defeat or withdraw. To leave Vietnam meant acknowledging not only that America could not contain communism, but that thousands of lives were lost for nothing. New York Times publishing The Pentagon Papers in 1971 made this war even more contentious, as it was revealed the government had intentionally been hiding details from the public. Feelings of governmental distrust continued after the invasion of Cambodia–the administration providing vague promises of troops being withdrawn whilst further entrenching America in the war. As time went on, the media began to speak more against the war, encouraging the already forming narrative that the government had ulterior motives for becoming involved in Vietnam.
Arguably one of the most controversial presidents in America’s history, Richard Nixon’s time in office further turned the media against the government. Even before his presidency, Nixon had a tense relationship with the press. He ended his campaign for the governor of California by claiming that the media would not have him to “kick around” anymore, implying they purposefully painted him in a negative light.[2] During his presidency, he insulted reporters who he disagreed with, going as far as calling some communists. This animosity only increased after The Pentagon Papers were published, as Nixon attempted to bar them from publishing further government secrets. While Nixon argued that this was to protect national security, the attempt to restrict the press was deemed unconstitutional. This case would permanently enforce Nixon’s position against the press, who regularly criticized his actions involving the Vietnam War.
While his actions involving the war were incredibly controversial, the Watergate Scandal is what Nixon is remembered for the most. While running for his second term, Nixon attempted to have the Democratic National Committee’s phones tapped. The men hired–the Plumbers–were caught. With one of the Plumbers having direct ties to the White House, there was speculation as to whether Nixon was involved. He adamantly claimed he was innocent, winning the election by a landslide as many Americans trusted his words. Two Washington Post reporters, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodword, spent the following months investigating the Watergate break-in, eventually finding proof of his involvement. At the same time, the break-in was being investigated by Judge John J. Sirica, who was still suspicious of White House involvement. Nixon impeded the investigation numerous times, refusing to cooperate with Sirica on the basis of executive privilege. The Supreme Court ruled against Nixon, arguing he could not withhold the evidence Sirica requested. This resulted in Nixon presenting the court with voice recordings that proved his guilt. His following resignation shocked the country and demonstrated how disconnected the public truly was from the administration. Shortly after Gerald Ford’s inauguration, Nixon was pardoned of all crimes. Many Americans wished to see him punished, his pardon cementing how little power the people truly had in comparison to the president. After the exposure of Nixon’s continuous lies, Americans could only wonder what else happened behind the administration’s closed doors.
It was the culmination of the Vietnam War and Nixon’s tumultuous presidency that broke the trust of Americans, but this would not have been possible without the media. While not initially antagonistic, the relationship between the government and media slowly dissolved. Newspapers and reporters saw the benefits from promoting political cynicism, cementing their importance in the eye of the public by bridging the ever growing gap between America’s citizens and its government. Through the analysis of various newspapers and reports, my research has grown beyond why Americans distrust the government, pressing on the importance the media and its bias had on creating the country’s present politics.
[1] Peter Bell, “Public Trust in Government: 1958-2022,” Pew Research Center – U.S. Politics & Policy. June 6, 2022.
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/06/06/public-trust-in-government-1958-2022/#:~:text=Trust%20in%20government%20began%20eroding%20during%20the%201960s%2C. (Accessed September 11, 2023).
[2] Richard Nixon. November 7, 1962. Found in Schwatz, Jacob. 2017. “55 Years Ago — ‘the Last Press Conference.’” November 14, 2017. https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2017/11/55-years-ago-last-press-conference/.