The 1970s were a time of political, environmental and technological awareness. This era provided the American people with information and inventions that would positively shape the future of the United States. Awareness brings optimistic thinking and change. This is exactly what happened in the 1970s. Political awareness held the government and politicians accountable. Environmental awareness has led consumers and governments to account for their energy consumption. The inventions of the 1970s provided the platform for the technological age that Americans rely on every day. President Richard M. Nixon and his involvement in the Watergate scandal were on the nightly 6 p.m. news in the early 1970s. Americans were consumed by the scandal and each had their own view of the situation. Every broadcast or newspaper article created distrust in political and government leaders. In response to this distrust, the Freedom to Information Act was strengthened by the American Congress in 1973 (Chamberlain). Although this law was first enacted in the late 1960s, the Watergate scandal provided the impetus to strengthen this law. The Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Nixon marked the beginning of Americans' distrust of politicians. This can be considered a positive effect. As a result, three significant open records reforms were created. The first of the reforms was the Sunshine Act of 1976. This required government agencies to hold meetings open to the public, with few exceptions. In 1978, the Ethics in Government Act required public officials to disclose their financial and employment records. The Presidential Records Act, also initiated in 1978, required preservation...... middle of paper ...... clear as muddy water: A short story about how politics can mess up which seems like such a simple concept.” Pollution Engineering May 2010: 7. General OneFile. Internet. April 27, 2014. Chamberlain, Kenneth, “History: The Day the Freedom of Information Act Expanded.” Nationaljournal.com November 20, 2012 General OneFile. Web April 26, 2014. Finney, Daniel P, “Watergate Scandal Changed the Political Landscape Forever,” USA Today, June 16, 2012. Web April 17, 2014. Hamilton, Kendall and Tessa Namuth. “Sticky stuff.” Newsweek 130, (January 15, 1997): 27. Readers' Guide Full Text Mega (HW Wilson), EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2014). Kilbane, Dorris, “Martin Cooper: But is it useful? Electronic Design, October 20, 2003, Web, April 22, 2014. Yarett, Ian, “Has Anything Improved Since That First Earth Day?” ". Newsweek, April 26, 2010. Lexisnexis, April 23 2014