Nixon and the Watergate Scandal

“Installed for national security reasons” Nixon was suspicious and secretive Felt he was “surrounded by enemies” The Enemies List – Nixon’s special counsel helped to develop a list of prominent people who were seen as “enemies” to the Nixon administration Included senators, reporters, comedians, and actors How to harass these White House enemies? Tax investigations Wiretaps: Nixon ordered listening devices to be installed on the telephones of his staff members and news reporters’ phones “Installed for national security reasons”

Nixon’s Plumbers Organized a special White House unit to stop government leaks – included former CIA and FBI agents 1971 – Daniel Ellsberg, a former Defense Dept. official gave the NY Times a secret study of the Vietnam War The Pentagon Papers – showed that previous Presidents had deceived Congress and the American people about the real situation in Vietnam Nixon was furious! The Plumbers broke into Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office to find damaging info about his private life

CREEP Committee to Re-elect the President H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, John Mitchell, and John Dean led group Determined to ensure Nixon’s victory in the 1972 Presidential Election Questionable tactics: Created and leaked to media a fake letter attempting to discredit Edmund Muskie, leading Presidential contender and democratic senator from Maine Sent hecklers to disrupt Democratic campaign meetings Assigned spies to join and infiltrate campaigns of major candidates These attempted sabotages on Nixon’s political opponents came to be known as “dirty tricks”

The Watergate Break-In Wiretapping of phones at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. First break in failed Second Attempt: June 1972 – five men were arrested Burglars carried money that the FBI traced back to CREEP Thus tying the break-in to Nixon’s re-election Nixon contacted the CIA telling them to persuade the FBI to stop its investigation on grounds of “national security” Led to Nixon becoming a part of the illegal cover up = The Watergate Scandal

The 1972 Presidential Election Nixon’s closest aides worked feverishly to keep the truth of the Watergate break-in hidden The scandal did not come to light until after Nixon’s re-election Nixon (Republican) against George McGovern (Democrat) McGovern – Senator from South Dakota 520 electoral votes to 17 electoral votes McGovern was unable to unify the democrats Nixon wins the election by a landslide, but the congress looses its Republican Majority

The Watergate Trial January 1973 - Trial of the burglars began before Judge John J. Sirica All defendants pleaded guilty or were found guilty March 1973 – Nixon approved “hush money” to defendant E. Howard Hunt To prompt burglars to talk, Sirica sentenced the burglars to long prison terms, up to 40 years Their sentence could be reduced if they cooperated with the upcoming Senate Hearings on Watergate

Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities James McCord, one of the burglars, agreed to testify to the committee in secret (suggested Nixon’s staff was involved) Leaks from the committee got to the media – Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Washington Post reporters extensively investigated the scandal Nixon forced Haldeman and Ehrlichman to resign John Dean, Nixon’s legal counselor, testified that Nixon knew about the cover-up Other staff members described illegal activities at the White House as well Secret taping system in the President’s Office that recorded all meetings and phone conversations revealed!

The Saturday Night Massacre May 1973 – Nixon agreed to a special Watergate prosecutor Worked for Justice Dept. but conducted his own, independent investigation Archibald Cox – immediately asked for the tapes Nixon refused and ordered Cox to be fired in Oct. 1973 Led to a series of resignation and firings at the White House

Administration crumbles Public approval rating plummeted “The President Should Resign” Nixon released edited transcripts of the White House conversations – cut out the most damaging evidence VP Spiro Agnew resigned – accused of income tax evasion and taking bribes Nixon named House Minority Leader Gerald Ford as VP Took two months for the Senate to confirm

Impeachment hearings begin July 1974 – House Judiciary Committee began to hold hearings to see if there were adequate grounds for impeachment Voted to begin impeachment on charges of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and refusal to obey a congressional order to turn over the tapes August 1974 – Nixon finally released tapes, with 18 ½ minutes missing Tapes gave clear evidence Nixon was involved August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigned and VP Gerald Ford sworn in