The Nixon Era and Watergate 1969-1974

The Burger Court No, not this… 4 Supreme Court justices retired while Nixon was president Gave him a chance to replace liberal judges with more conservative ones

The Burger Court 1969 – Warren Burger appointed to replace Chief Justice Earl Warren 3 other justices appointed: Harry Blackmun Lewis Powell William Rehnquist

Election of 1972 Nixon’s Southern Strategy paid off Republicans gain control of every Southern state legislature Nixon favored to win easy re-election Soviet/China negotiations AND, Democrats nominated a very liberal, antiwar candidate in Sen. George McGovern (D-SD)

George McGovern

The Election of 1972 McGovern’s campaign was a disaster Dropped his VP (Eagleton) Nixon crushed McGovern in the election, winning 49/50 states

Election of 1972

WATERGATE June 17, 1972 – Burglary at the DNC headquarters in the Watergate Building (D.C.) 5 arrested with bugging equipment Working for CREEP (Committee to Re-Elect the President) CREEP = Raised $ through unethical means

Watergate Building

CREEP

WATERGATE Watergate leads to the resignation of many WH aides/advisers By 1974  29 people charged, pled guilty, or convicted FBI, CIA, and IRS used by Nixon’s men to harass enemies (“enemies list”) Plumbers Unit – Nixon aides determined to stop the “leaking” of information (like Pentagon Papers)

WATERGATE Senate committee led by Sam Ervin (D-NC) conducted Watergate hearings (1973-1974) John Dean III – Accused several “higher-ups” in the administration, including Nixon, of covering up Watergate (obstruction of justice!) Nixon denied any wrongdoing

John Dean Testifying

WATERGATE July 1973 – Evidence emerged of “bugging” equipment in the WH, installed on Nixon’s authority Nixon recorded many conversations in the Oval Office Now Dean’s allegations could be checked against the tapes Nixon refused to hand over the tapes (“Executive Privilege”)

One of the tape recorders…

Possible Locations of the “Bugs”

WATERGATE October 1973 – VP Agnew forced to resign for taking bribes Agnew replaced by Rep. Gerald Ford (25th Amendment) October 20, 1973 – “Saturday Night Massacre” occurred Nixon ordered the firing of Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor investigating Watergate

VP Spiro Agnew

WATERGATE Cox had issued a subpoena for the tapes The Attorney General refused to fire Cox, so he resigned, along with the Assistant Attorney General

Saturday Night Massacre

WATERGATE 1974 – Nixon turned over some parts of the tapes (“relevant” parts) Many of the tapes had missing parts, and were littered with obscenities Nixon refused to hand over any of the remaining tapes Supreme Court ruled in U.S. v. Nixon that he MUST turn them over; executive privilege would not be an excuse

WATERGATE July 1974 – House Judiciary Committee drew up articles of impeachment against Nixon Obstruction of Justice Contempt of Congress Abuse of Power

Impeach!

The Fall of Nixon August 5, 1974 – Nixon released a 1972 tape showing he had ordered a cover-up of the Watergate case President is obstructing justice! Lied to the American people!

The Fall of Nixon August 8, 1974 – Nixon announced his resignation August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigned as president

Nixon’s Resignation Letter

Nixon Resigns

Nixon Leaves the White House

BREAK

Cambodia and the War Powers Act Cambodia had actually been bombed by the U.S. as early as 1969 Bombs fell while the U.S. govt. claimed Cambodian neutrality was being respected Congress tried to cut off funding, but Nixon vetoed each time Finally, Congress passed the War Powers Act (1973) to limit presidential war-making powers

Cambodia and the War Powers Act 2 parts to the War Powers Act: President must inform Congress within 48 hours if troops are sent into a foreign conflict or deployed to a foreign country Troops could stay for only 60 days, unless Congress voted to extend for 30 more days

The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis October 1973 – Syria and Egypt attacked Israel US supported Israel with supplies Israel won the war Middle Eastern nations retaliate against the US by setting up an oil embargo US economy suffered greatly

Yom Kippur War

Gas Shortages

The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis US a net importer of oil, and dependent upon foreign oil Any interruption in oil supplies = interruption in the US economy Congress ordered the building of an Alaskan pipeline, and set up a national speed limit of 55 mph

The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis After the embargo, oil prices quadrupled US car manufacturers forced to make more fuel-efficient cars