Unit 11: Nixon and Watergate

Watergate Exam 1. Creep 2. John Mitchell 3. Plumbers 4. John Dean 5. Woodward/Bernstein 6. Watergate 7. James McCord 8. Alexander Butterfield 9. Saturday Night Massacre 10. Richard Nixon v. USA

Ellsberg became upset about his part in the war-became an anti-war demonstrator. He tried to speak to Nixon about the Pentagon Papers- Nixon refused to see him. He gave a copy of report to the New York Times. These were stories of “cover-ups” during the war.

Nixon had Ellsberg arrested for giving classified information to the press. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ellsberg Report was not classified, according to the Court-study created by McNamara, Secretary of State-no executive order was ordered…McNamara created this in a “private matter.”

President Nixon begins his campaign for re-election in He creates CREEP- the Committee to Re-Elect the President He hires Attorney General John Mitchell : head of CREEP. Mitchell resigns as Attorney General to accept position. Who does this????

The White House Plumbers The White House created a special unit within CREEP to ensure internal security. This unit was called the Plumbers because they stopped leaks. (information from reaching the Press/public) Howard HuntG. Gordon Liddy James McCordChuck Colson

The Watergate Break-in Nixon feared he could lose the 1972 Election. So…the Plumbers turned their activities to political spying. On 17 June 1972, 5 men were arrested while attempting to bug the headquarters of the Democratic Party inside the Watergate building in Washington D.C.

Watergate Burglars-all Cuban exiles from Miami

Another man arrested a few days later, James McCord, was the head of White House security. Nixon and White House deny any involvement-”these men acted on their own.”

One week later, Nixon tells the American public he has ordered his White House attorney, John Dean, to investigate the break-in: “no one in the White House was involved.”

Woodward, Bernstein and the Washington Post Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Washington Post Reporters began to investigate this story.

Watergate Enters the Nixon Campaign Woodward/Bernstein report that the break-in was eventually tied to the Nixon reelection campaign. a $25,000 check was deposited in the bank account of a Watergate burglar, Bernard Barker “hush money” John Mitchell, head of CREEP, approved this.

The Watergate story became 5 th /6 th page stories in newspapers-most people were convinced that the White House was not involved with Watergate. November of 1972 Nixon wins 49 out of 50 states to win the Election of 1972.

The Watergate Investigations: Judge John Sirica January 1973 Watergate Burglars are found guilty for the break-in. In March 1973, defendant James W. McCord sent a letter to Sirica confirming that it was a cover-up, involving the White House.

Judge Sirica advises the US Senate to investigate the Watergate Story. He believes there really could be a “major” conspiracy.

Senate Investigation and the Oval Office Tapes The Senate began hearings into Watergate in May The hearings were televised in their entirety. Richard Nixon announces that John Dean and two aides are involved in a cover-up of Watergate- they are fired!

Woodward and Bernstein were receiving information from an undisclosed source which who became known as “Deep Throat.” It was someone within the government- everyone wanted to know who the source was……they never told anyone…….

John Dean is called to testify before the committee. He testifies that Richard Nixon knew of the Watergate break-in, and approved it-this backs up all the stories that Woodward/Bernstein were reporting in the Washington Post.

Senate Investigation and the Oval Office Tapes When former White House aide Alexander Butterfield was asked about the source of the White House information, he revealed the existence of an automatic taping system that Nixon had secretly installed in the Oval Office.

The Smoking Gun Tapes Committee demands the tapes-Nixon refuses-”matter of national security. Nixon announces to the American public that he has hired a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate- will assist the committee. (Archibald Cox)

The Saturday Night Massacre Nixon tried to reach a deal to provide transcripts of some tapes. The deal broke down when Cox refused to accept the transcripts in place of the tapes. Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. Archibald Cox

The Saturday Night Massacre When Richardson refused, he was fired. Nixon ordered Deputy Attorney General to fire Cox. When he refused, he was fired. Robert Bork

Nixon then orders the Solicitor General, Robert Bork, to fire Cox-he does so…. The Washington Post reports this story as the “Saturday Night Massacre.”

The USA government takes Nixon to court, asking for the tapes. In the case Richard Nixon v. the United States of America, the Supreme Court ruled that Nixon must turn over tapes.

Nixon turns over some of the tapes…..and provides edited transcripts of the tapes….they reveal a “dark side” of Richard Nixon. Supreme Court reminds Nixon that he must turn over all tapes….he finally does…

The tapes reveal that Richard Nixon knew of Watergate, and used the FBI and CIA to stop the investigation. (Cover-up)

Nixon Resigns On 27 July 1974, the House Judiciary Committee approved Articles of Impeachment against Nixon. (Reasons to remove the president from office) Obstruction of Justice Abuse of Power The House was to vote on the matter soon. On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first American president to resign.

Aftermath More than 30 government officials went to prison for their role in Watergate. In September 1974, President Gerald Ford gave Nixon a full pardon-preventing him from going to jail. Ford announcing the pardon

Mark Felt Assistant Director of FBI