WATERGATE CHAPTER 32, SECTION 2

IMPORTANT TERMS WATERGATE WATERGATE H.R. HALDEMANN H.R. HALDEMANN JOHN ERLICHMANN JOHN ERLICHMANN COMMITTEE TO REELECT THE PRESIDENT (C.R.E.P.) COMMITTEE TO REELECT THE PRESIDENT (C.R.E.P.) JUDGE JOHN SIRICA JUDGE JOHN SIRICA SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE

IMPORTANT DATES JUNE, 1972: WATERGATE BREAK-IN JUNE, 1972: WATERGATE BREAK-IN SEPTEMBER, 1972: WATERGATE BURGLARS INDICTED SEPTEMBER, 1972: WATERGATE BURGLARS INDICTED JANUARY, 1973: WATERGATE TRIAL BEGINS JANUARY, 1973: WATERGATE TRIAL BEGINS OCTOBER, 1973: THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE OCTOBER, 1973: THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE AUGUST 8, 1974: RICHARD NIXON RESIGNS THE PRESIDENCY AUGUST 8, 1974: RICHARD NIXON RESIGNS THE PRESIDENCY

ORIGINS OF THE SCANDAL CAUSES: CAUSES: Executive Branch had developed extreme power since FDR’s Administration Executive Branch had developed extreme power since FDR’s Administration Nixon believed President should be able to avoid limits to his power Nixon believed President should be able to avoid limits to his power Examples? Examples? 1970: Invasion of Cambodia – Not approved by Congress 1970: Invasion of Cambodia – Not approved by Congress Impounding (define) federal $ going to programs he opposed Impounding (define) federal $ going to programs he opposed Nixon’s isolation from others & secrecy Nixon’s isolation from others & secrecy Nixon’s mistrust of the media, liberals, etc. Nixon’s mistrust of the media, liberals, etc. Developed small groups of trusted White House officials: Developed small groups of trusted White House officials: Examples: John Erlichmann, H.R. Haldeman, John Mitchell Examples: John Erlichmann, H.R. Haldeman, John Mitchell

ORIGINS OF THE SCANDAL (Cont’d.) Nixon’s White House advisors / aids become… Convinced they are threatened by a “liberal conspiracy” Suspicious of outsiders Very secretive Believed they were “above the law” Example? Nixon campaign officials were willing to break the law to guarantee the 1972 election victory Results? The Watergate break-in The Watergate cover-up The Watergate scandal

THE BREAK-IN When? June 17, 1972 When? June 17, 1972 Where? Where? DNC Offices, Watergate Apartment Bldg. DNC Offices, Watergate Apartment Bldg. Washington, DC Washington, DC Who? The “Plumbers” (Define) Who? The “Plumbers” (Define) Why? Why? Find / Copy important DNC documents Find / Copy important DNC documents Plant wiretaps (bugs) Plant wiretaps (bugs) Key Individual: James McCord Key Individual: James McCord So What? So What? McCord: Former CIA Officer, also member of C.R.P. McCord: Former CIA Officer, also member of C.R.P. Problem? C.R.P. is run by John Mitchell, former U.S. Attorney General Problem? C.R.P. is run by John Mitchell, former U.S. Attorney General

THE COVER-UP PROBLEM: PEOPLE CLOSELY LINKED TO THE PRESIDENT ARE INVOLVED IN A CRIME PROBLEM: PEOPLE CLOSELY LINKED TO THE PRESIDENT ARE INVOLVED IN A CRIME SO WHAT? ISSUE RAISES THE QUESTION: ARE PEOPLE IN NIXON’S ADMINISTRATION HONEST / ETHICAL PEOPLE? SO WHAT? ISSUE RAISES THE QUESTION: ARE PEOPLE IN NIXON’S ADMINISTRATION HONEST / ETHICAL PEOPLE? WHAT SHOULD NIXON DO? WHAT SHOULD NIXON DO? 2 OPTIONS: 2 OPTIONS: 1. PUBLICLY ADMIT PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH WERE INVOLVED IN THE BREAK-IN & FORCE THEM TO RESIGN 1. PUBLICLY ADMIT PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH WERE INVOLVED IN THE BREAK-IN & FORCE THEM TO RESIGN 2. DENY THE ALLEGATIONS & TRY TO PREVENT AN INVESTIGATION OR COVER UP THE CRIME 2. DENY THE ALLEGATIONS & TRY TO PREVENT AN INVESTIGATION OR COVER UP THE CRIME WHAT SHOULD HE HAVE DONE? WHAT SHOULD HE HAVE DONE? IRONY: NEWS OF THE BREAK-IN GENERATED LITTLE INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC IRONY: NEWS OF THE BREAK-IN GENERATED LITTLE INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC

TRIAL & INVESTIGATION JAN., 1973: TRIAL OF BURGLARS BEGINS – McCord LATER ADMITS THE COVER-UP INVOLVES WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS JAN., 1973: TRIAL OF BURGLARS BEGINS – McCord LATER ADMITS THE COVER-UP INVOLVES WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS MAY, 1973: SENATE INVESTIGATION BEGINS MAY, 1973: SENATE INVESTIGATION BEGINS INVESTIGATION REVEALS EXISTENCE OF OVAL OFFICE TAPING SYSTEM THAT COULD REVEAL COVER-UP DETAILS INVESTIGATION REVEALS EXISTENCE OF OVAL OFFICE TAPING SYSTEM THAT COULD REVEAL COVER-UP DETAILS CONGRESS ORDERS TAPES BE GIVEN TO THEM CONGRESS ORDERS TAPES BE GIVEN TO THEM NIXON REFUSES: SAYS THEY CONTAIN SENSITIVE NATIONAL SECURITY INFO. NIXON REFUSES: SAYS THEY CONTAIN SENSITIVE NATIONAL SECURITY INFO. GOV’T. PROSECUTOR, ARCHIBALD COX, TAKES NIXON TO COURT TO GET POSSESSION OF TAPES GOV’T. PROSECUTOR, ARCHIBALD COX, TAKES NIXON TO COURT TO GET POSSESSION OF TAPES NIXON ORDERS ATTORNEY GENERAL, ELLIOT RICHARDSON, TO FIRE COX NIXON ORDERS ATTORNEY GENERAL, ELLIOT RICHARDSON, TO FIRE COX RICHARDSON REFUSES, RESIGNS, COX IS FIRED BY NIXON RICHARDSON REFUSES, RESIGNS, COX IS FIRED BY NIXON THIS IS KNOWN AS “THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE” THIS IS KNOWN AS “THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE”

WATERGATE SCANDAL CARTOON, 1974

1974 TIME MAGAZINE COVER, WATERGATE SCANDAL

RESIGNATION SENATE BEGINS IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS SENATE BEGINS IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS SUPREME COURT ORDERS NIXON TO GIVE CONGRESS THE TAPES SUPREME COURT ORDERS NIXON TO GIVE CONGRESS THE TAPES TAPES REVEALED NIXON HAD DISCUSSED BREAK-IN W/ HALDEMANN SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED TAPES REVEALED NIXON HAD DISCUSSED BREAK-IN W/ HALDEMANN SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED CONGRESS BEGINS TO PREPARE FOR IMPEACHMENT CONGRESS BEGINS TO PREPARE FOR IMPEACHMENT AUGUST 8, 1974: NIXON RESIGNS THE PRESIDENCY AUGUST 8, 1974: NIXON RESIGNS THE PRESIDENCY

RICHARD NIXON’S RESIGNATION LETTER, AUGUST 9 TH, 1974