Crisis in the Presidency

 Ignored the Constitution  1.Impounded funds  2.U.S. troops invaded Cambodia  3.Released patient records of Daniel Ellsberg – Pentagon Papers  4.Nicknamed “Imperial Presidency” – “King Richard” The Nixon White House

 made his reputation in the 1940s by hounding alleged communists (Alger Hiss)  surrounded himself with trusted and loyal aides “palace guard” – H.R. Haldeman (chief of staff) and John Ehrlichman Nixon

Erlichman and Haldeman

 1971 – orders Chuck Colson to put together “enemies list” – 200 people – 18 organizations  a.mostly liberals  b.all black leadership in the House  After invasion of Cambodia: FBI, CIA, NSA, DIA, IRS work together to combat anti-war movement  Goal: break into homes and offices to find info to discredit or blackmail Nixon’s critics

 CREEP – Committee to Re-elect the President  1.run by John Mitchell – former Attorney General  2.raised massive amounts of illegal funds – some went to the “dirty tricks” campaign  3.G. Gordon Liddy – came up with the idea to break into the Dem. National Headquarters  a.copy documents b.bug phones c.keep tabs on Dem. election strategy d.offices located at the Watergate complex CREEPs

John MitchellG. Gordon Liddy

 Washington Post learns 2 of the burglars were members of CREEP 1.burglars had been paid by CREEP funds (anti-Castro Cuban refugees, ex-CIA and FBI agents) 2.Watergate only one of many illegal activities planned and paid for by CREEP Unraveling Watergate – June 1972

Watergate Burglars

Frank Wills – Watergate Security

 Washington Post asserts Watergate was part of a massive campaign of political spying and sabotage  Nixon worked hard to bury the story  1972 election – only 48% of Americans had heard of Watergate October 10, 1972

Washington Post Bob WoodwardCarl Bernstein

 Judge John J. Sirica  Watergate burglars go on trial  James McCord writes a letter to Sirica a. Whitehouse lied about involvement b. pressured burglars to plead guilty and remain silent  April 1973 – Ehrlichman, Dean, Haldeman all resign  Whitehouse counsel John Dean testifies that there was a cover-up and Nixon approved it Watergate Trial – early 1973

Key Witnesses James McCord John Dean

 Nixon had bugged his own office  was ordered to turn them over – claims executive privilege  tries to get Cox (special prosecutor) fired  finally turns over “edited” tapes – many gaps  U.S. v. Nixon – Nixon has to turn over unedited tapes Tapes – Alexander Butterfield

 Obstructing Justice  Violating rights of U.S. citizens  Defying Congress – Perjury  1. tapes proved Nixon knew everything  2. August 7, 1974 – resigned from office Move for Impeachment – July 30, 1974

Farewell – “I am not a crook”

 Gerald Ford becomes President  Congress enacts laws to curb Presidential power 1. Privacy Act 2. War Powers Act 3. Federal Election Campaign Act – limits on contributions  31 Nixon administration officials go to jail  Ford pardoned Nixon  threatened the foundation of American democracy  Vietnam, Watergate undermined the nation’s self-confidence – Created Credibility Gap Aftermath