Question

Which speaker is most clearly expressing the public mood after the Watergate hearings?

A. Speaker 1: American leaders deserve our trust and respect because they're the greatest force for freedom and equality in the world.

B. Speaker 2: It is the duty of all American citizens to fight against tyranny and Communism.

C. Speaker 3: American politicians are corrupt crooks who care more for themselves than for the people they claim to serve.

D. Speaker 4: American leaders are flawed, like all people, but they generally do their best to make the country better.

Answer 1

Speaker 3 best expresses the public mood after the Watergate hearings by suggesting American politicians are self-serving and corrupt, mirroring the public's distrust in political leaders following the scandal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The speaker that most clearly expresses the public mood after the Watergate hearings is Speaker 3, who states that American politicians are corrupt crooks who care more for themselves than for the people they claim to serve. This sentiment reflects the disillusionment and cynicism toward political leaders that followed the Watergate scandal, where the highest levels of government were involved in illegal activities and cover-ups. The public's trust in government officials was significantly eroded, and there was a widespread belief that politicians were more self-serving than public-serving. This was in direct contrast with the hope exemplified in the ideal of government "BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE PEOPLE" that Abraham Lincoln spoke about in his Gettysburg Address. The Watergate scandal prompted a reevaluation of the American political system's integrity and the role of elected officials within it, with calls for greater transparency and accountability