Lesson
No Man Is Above the Law: Mark Felt, Watergate, and Responsibility
How did Mark Felt lived up to the responsibility he believed he had to uphold the rule of law during the Watergate Scandal?
Founding Principles
Civic Virtue, Freedom of Speech, Individual Responsibility, Liberty, Rule of Law
Virtues
Guiding questions
Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Observation Questions
- Who was Mark Felt?
- What was Mark Felt’s role in the Watergate scandal?
- What do Mark Felt’s actions say about his identity?
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
- What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
- How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
- How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
- How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
- What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
- Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
- How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
Learning objectives
- Students will analyze Mark Felt’s actions during the Watergate scandal.
- Students will understand how responsibility played a role in Mark Felt coming forward.
- Students will apply this knowledge to better understand responsibilities in their own lives and how they can act upon them.
