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"Richard Nixon's Resignation Speech" by President Richard M. Nixon prior to answering the following questions.

PART A: Which TWO of the following best identify the central ideas of this speech? (2 points)
Responses

While Nixon is resigning amid scandal, he does not have any regrets because he only acted in America's best interest.
While Nixon is resigning amid scandal, he does not have any regrets because he only acted in America's best interest.
Getting caught up in scandals prevents actual political progress from occurring.
Getting caught up in scandals prevents actual political progress from occurring.
America will come to regret its focus on Nixon's corruption instead of his foreign diplomacy skills as America faces a world-wide nuclear proliferation crisis.
America will come to regret its focus on Nixon's corruption instead of his foreign diplomacy skills as America faces a world-wide nuclear proliferation crisis.
While Nixon's administration achieved major peace milestones, in order to protect those milestones the Ford Administration must continue to address important issues.
While Nixon's administration achieved major peace milestones, in order to protect those milestones the Ford Administration must continue to address important issues.
Nixon is resigning in order to avoid impeachment, which would tarnish his image.
Nixon is resigning in order to avoid impeachment, which would tarnish his image.
Nixon admits he did do some things wrong but deserves less critical scrutiny because he only did them in the best interest of the American people.
Nixon admits he did do some things wrong but deserves less critical scrutiny because he only did them in the best interest of the American people.

Question 4
PART B: Which TWO phrases from the text best support the answers to Part A? (2 points)
Responses

"To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home." (Paragraph 7)
"To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home." (Paragraph 7)
"I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong -- and some were wrong -- they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interests of the nation." (Paragraph 12)
"I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong -- and some were wrong -- they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interests of the nation." (Paragraph 12)
"And to those who have not felt able to give me your support, let me say I leave with no bitterness toward those who have opposed me," (Paragraph 13)
"And to those who have not felt able to give me your support, let me say I leave with no bitterness toward those who have opposed me," (Paragraph 13)
"They have been a time of achievement in which we can all be proud, achievements that represent the shared efforts of the administration, the Congress and the people. But the challenges ahead are equally great." (Paragraph 14)
"They have been a time of achievement in which we can all be proud, achievements that represent the shared efforts of the administration, the Congress and the people. But the challenges ahead are equally great." (Paragraph 14)
"We must keep as our goal turning away from production for war and expanding production for peace so that people everywhere on this earth can at last look forward, in their children's time, if not in our own time, to having the necessities for a decent life." (Paragraph 18)
"We must keep as our goal turning away from production for war and expanding production for peace so that people everywhere on this earth can at last look forward, in their children's time, if not in our own time, to having the necessities for a decent life." (Paragraph 18)
"There is one cause above all to which I have been devoted and to which I shall always be devoted for as long as I live." (Paragraph 22)

1 answer

PART A: Central Ideas of the Speech

The two options that best identify the central ideas of Nixon's resignation speech are:

  1. While Nixon is resigning amid scandal, he does not have any regrets because he only acted in America's best interest.
  2. Nixon admits he did do some things wrong but deserves less critical scrutiny because he only did them in the best interest of the American people.

PART B: Supporting Phrases

The two phrases from the text that best support the answers to Part A are:

  1. "I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong -- and some were wrong -- they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interests of the nation." (Paragraph 12)
  2. "To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home." (Paragraph 7)

These phrases illustrate Nixon's justification for his actions and his focus on national concerns over personal vindication, aligning well with the identified central ideas.