1. Watergate: Nixon’s Downfall
Ch. 24-2

2. An Imperial Presidency
1968 – The Executive branch has become the most powerful branch of government;
The expansion of presidential power began with T. Roosevelt;
FDR continued the expansion during the New Deal and WWII
Nixon wanted to further increase the power of the President

3. All the President’s Men
Nixon surrounded himself with a small group of loyal advisers:
H.R. Haldeman – White House Chief of Staff
John Ehrlichman – Chief Domestic Adviser
John Mitchell – Attorney General
John Dean – Counsel to the President
Nixon and his advisers came to believe that they were above the law

4. A Bungled Burglary
June 17, 1972 – Five men are caught breaking into Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate complex;
The plan was to photograph documents and bug telephones;
James McCord, the group’s leader, was a former CIA agent and security coordinator for the Committee to Reelect the President (CRP)

5. The Cover-Up Begins With the President’s knowledge and consent:
Incriminating documents are shredded;
The CIA is asked to urge the FBI to stop its investigation into the burglary;
The CRP pays off the burglars to keep quiet
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, reporters for the Washington Post continue investigating;
Information uncovered by Woodward & Bernstein links the White House to the burglary;
Their source is an insider nicknamed, “Deep Throat”

6. The Cover-Up Unravels
James McCord reveals that members of the Nixon administration were involved in the break-in;
The Senate begins an investigation into Watergate:
Nixon fires Dean and announces the resignation of Haldeman and Ehrlichman;
Nixon appears on TV to deny involvement
Officials in the Nixon administration are called to testify before a Senate special committee

7. The Nixon Tapes
During his Senate testimony, Dean reveals that Nixon was deeply involved in the cover-up
Presidential Aide, Alexander Butterfield, reveals that Nixon taped virtually all presidential conversations
A battle for the “Nixon Tapes” follows;
More Nixon administration officials resign or are fired, including the V.P., Spiro Agnew
Gerald Ford is confirmed as the new V.P.

8. U.S. v. Nixon
July, The Supreme Court determines that Nixon must hand over the White House tapes;
Nixon claims “executive privilege” and that handing over the tapes may endanger national security;
Court says there is no executive privilege when there is evidence of criminal activity

9. Nixon Resigns
March 1974 – Seven presidential aids are indicted on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury
July 27, 1974 – The Senate committee approves three articles of impeachment against Nixon for obstruction, abuse of power and contempt
August 5, 1974 – Nixon releases the tapes which contain evidence that Nixon had known and agreed to the cover-up plan.
August 8, 1974 – Nixon become the 1st president to resign from office

10. The Legacy of Watergate
25 members of Nixon’s administration are convicted and sent to prison.
Nixon is pardoned by President Ford
People are disillusioned with their government and with the “imperial presidency”
Lingering cynicism/distrust in the media and with the American public
Congress acts to curb the power of the President
Halt funding of the bombing in Cambodia
War Powers Act – limits the president’s freedom in initiating foreign wars