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Frost Nixon Video-1
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David Frost – British talk-show host with programs on three continents and a playboy reputation. Having lost his
show in America he hopes an exclusive interview with Nixon will launch him back into the limelight.
Richard Nixon – 37th President of the United States, the first to resign from office following the Watergate scandal.
Three years later, in 1977, he lives in seclusion in California hoping to rehabilitate his career.
Jim Reston – American university lecturer and staunch critic of Nixon. He joins David Frost’s team as a
researcher and acts as a narrator to events.
Jack Brennan – Nixon’s chief of staff and loyal supporter; a tough negotiator in setting up the interview with Frost.
Evonne Goolagong – tennis player; the first Aboriginal Australian to win Wimbledon and a guest on Frost’s
producer.
Manlo Sanchez – Nixon’s manservant.
Swifty Lazaar – Legendary Hollywood agent representing Nixon; brokers deal with Frost securing an
unprecedented $600,000 for the interview.
Caroline Cushing – Frost’s girlfriend.
Bob Zelnick – Veteran American reporter; well known in the Washington scene and a key member of Frost’s
team.
John Birt – Director of Programmes London Weekend Television (LWT). He would take a break from LWT to
produce Frost’s interviews with Nixon.
Nixon was famous for keeping an “Enemies List”. President Ford once said that whoever has to keep
a list of his enemies – has too many enemies.
1.
What do the opening Nixon sound bites tell us about Nixon’s personality?
Nixon was mean spirited and vengeful
2. What do the sound bites suggest about the charge that Nixon abused his power as president?
Nixon did abuse his presidential power by using it to attack his political enemies.
3. Why were Reston and Zelnick not satisfied with Nixon’s resignation speech?
They wanted an apology and a confession.
4. According to Zelnick, what was the big advantage that David Frost had over everyone else?
Frost knew television.
Note: Phlebitis involves blood clots, usually deep in the veins of the legs. If these move to the
lungs it can be fatal.
5. How did President’s Ford’s pardon of Nixon increase the pressure on Frost and his interviews with Nixon?
People disapproved of the pardon and this increased the pressure on Frost to get a confession.
6. What current news anchor is assisting Nixon write his book?
Diane Sawyer
7. Nixon weighs the possibilities of doing an interview with CBS and Mike Wallace or with David Frost. Nixon
believes the CBS interview would offer more credibility; on the other hand the Frost interview would be
easier and offer more money.
8. Why does John Birt (Frost’s producer) think that paying Nixon $600,000 for the interview will make
Americans angry?
It will make him rich.
9. The three major American TV networks refuse to back Frost and run the interviews. List three objections
that they have.
(1) Networks don’t pay for news interviews
(2) Frost is an outsider and an entertainer -- not a serious interviewer
(3) The network would have no editorial control over the finished product.
10. After an initial meeting with Nixon in his California office, Nixon tells Frost that he will approach the
interviews as a duel with “no holds barred”.
11. How many days and hours will be involved in the interviews?
12 days; 30 hours
12. James Reston is considering signing on as a researcher with Frost. What does Reston say will be his goal
going into the interviews?
Reston wants to give Nixon the trial he never had.
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Frost Nixon Video-2
Terms: Checkers – the Nixon family dog. Nixon gave the “Checkers Speech” as Vice President
during the Eisenhower Administration to gain public sympathy.
Deep Throat – the unknown person (at the time) who gave important Watergate information to
the Washington Post Reporters, Woodward and Bernstein.
1. Nixon gives a speech to the Orthodontic Society of Houston. What angers him the most about this
incident? Questions on Watergate
2. Nixon learns that Frost got the money to do the interviews. The interviews are to be divided in four 90
minute segments that include the following:
3. (1) Domestic Policy
(2) Foreign Policy
(3) “Nixon the Man” – biographical sketch
(4) Watergate
4. What does Nixon’s aide, Jack Brennan, suggest that they can accomplish with these interviews?
Rebuild Nixon’s reputation and enable him to move back East – where “the action is”
5. What “joke” does Nixon make with Brennan about how they might prepare for these interviews?
Nixon says he knows of Cubans with CIA training that they can send in to spy on Frost and his
team Nixon
6. Which of Frost’s aides is assigned the job of doing research on Watergate and the abuse of power?
James Reston
7. How does Nixon’s aide, Jack Brennan, try to limit the negative topics that will be discussed during the
interviews?
Brennan wants to roll all negative topics into the umbrella term “Watergate” – this would limit all
the negative items to one segment of the interviews
8. What word does Frost’s producer, John Birt, use to refer to Frost that causes deep concern
among Zelnick and Reston?
Performer
9. What risk does Frost decide to take with his opening question to Nixon?
Frost will start off by asking Nixon why he didn’t just burn the tapes – this could be seen as a
breach of contract and Nixon could walk off the set.
10. Nixon arrives for the interviews. What in this scene indicates that Nixon still enjoys a certain level
of prestige and power?
Nixon arrives in a motorcade of several black limousines with police escort and he is still provided
with Secret Service protection.
11. How does Nixon try to unnerve Frost and throw him off balance just before the interview begins?
Nixon asks Frost about his Italian shoes and asks whether he finds them effeminate.
12. What technique does Nixon use during the first interview handle the tough questions and
dominate the interview? He gives long drawn out answers
13. Describe how each side feels after the first interview session.
Frost’s team is very worried and Nixon’s team is confident.
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Frost Nixon Video-3
Terms: Khmer Rouge – Communist movement in Cambodia formed to resist the right-wing government which was
supported by the U.S. Their leader, Pol Pot launched a purge against professionals, government
officials, and Buddhist monks. Approximately 2 million people died in this genocide.
1. How does Frost adjust his posture (body language) during the second interview to appear more
aggressive? Frost leans forward
2. Frost questions Nixon aggressively on Vietnam and Cambodia. Is this line of questioning not
successful for Frost and his team?
No it is not successful – Frost’s team thinks David gets “beat up” over these questions.
Why or why not?
Nixon appears very confident and responds aggressively by saying he wished he had gone into
Cambodia sooner. Nixon continues to give long drawn out answers.
3. Why does Nixon have a big advantage when the topic shifts to foreign policy (Soviet Union and
China)?
This is the area where Nixon is given credit for major achievement (Soviet Union and China)
4. How do Frost and his team disagree over his performance during the third interview?
Frost remains upbeat and positive – his team is very dejected and talks about working at Burger
King
5. What is Jack Brennan’s (Nixon’s aide) assessment, of their position after the third interview?
Brennan refers to it as a shut out and states that the President has an 11-0 lead (indicates that
eleven interviews have taken place).
6. Why do you think Nixon calls Frost at his hotel?
Various answers. Possibly to throw Frost off guard or make him worry.
7. Nixon reveals important characteristics of his personality during this conversation. Who are the
“snobs” that Nixon seems to detest so much?
The rich and the well educated whose approval he craves, but whom he views as looking down on
him. An example would be the Kennedys.
8. What does Nixon admit he was doing before he made the phone call?
Drinking
9. How does Frost’s behavior change after this phone call?
He becomes more focused and works much harder.
Name _____________________________ Class ______ Date ________________
Frost Nixon Video-4
Terms: Charles Colson –
a lawyer and special counsel to Richard Nixon. He helped coordinate the “dirty-tricks”
campaign against George McGovern in the 1972 election. He took the Fifth Amendment
during the Watergate Hearings. He later served seven months in jail for obstructing justice.
Obstruction of Justice – A criminal offense that involves interference, through words or
actions, with the proper operations of a court or officers of the court.
1. Nixon says he did not obstruct justice because he did not have a corrupt motive.
Frost counters this by saying that the direct consequence of Nixon’s actions was that two burglars
would have : escaped criminal prosecution.
2. Nixon says there is no evidence that he obstructed justice. How does Frost respond?
Frost points out that 18 1/2 minutes of tape were erased.
3. Who does Nixon try to blame for the cover-up?
Haldeman and Ehrlichman
4. The key admission that Frost gets Nixon to make is: “That when the President does something
it is not illegal “
5. What happens when Frost directly asks Nixon if he will admit that he participated in a cover-up
and broke the law? Nixon’s aide, Jack Brennan breaks in and temporarily stops the interview.
6. Frost tries to get Nixon to admit that what he did was more than just mistakes – does he succeed?
Frost gets Nixon to admit that he was involved in the coverup.
7. What are four things that Nixon says he “let down”?
(1) The American people; (2) Nixon’s friends; (3) The country; (4). the American system of
government; (5. The dreams of young people who wanted to get involved in government – but will
now see it as corrupt.
8. What does Reston say that Frost was able to capture in the interviews that no one else had been
able to?
Nixon’s swollen and ravaged face and Nixon being filled with self-loathing, loneliness, and defeat
9. How successful were the interviews when they aired on television?
Largest audience in television history for a news story
10. Why does Nixon believe Frost would have been great as a politician, and he would have been
better as an interviewer?
Nixon has observed that Frost really likes being with people and has a “light” touch. Nixon
believes he is more suited to the life of an intellectual, and of study and debate.
11. Reston says that one legacy of Watergate is that any future political wrongdoing will immediately
be given : the suffix “gate”