1. 24.2 Watergate: Nixon’s Downfall

2. “The President’s Men” Nixon confided in a small and loyal group of men
H.R. Haldeman-Chief of Staff
John Ehrlichman-Chief Domestic Adviser
John Mitchell-Attorney General

3. The Drive Toward Reelection
Nixon wanted to not only win the 1972 election, but to dominate it
June 17, 1972-five men are arrested breaking into the campaign office of the Democratic National Committee
Photograph campaign plans
Tap, or bug, the phones
Employed by the Committee to Reelect the President (CRP)

4. Nixon’s Response
Could have disowned the operation and dismissed everyone involved
Instead, tried to cover the incident up
CRP paid out $500,000 to keep the five men quiet
Nixon won reelection by a huge margin

5. The Cover-Up Unravels
Eventually, all but one of the burglars pleads guilty
The Senate began to investigate
April 30, 1973-Nixon dismissed John Dean (White House lawyer) and announced the resignation of Haldeman and Ehrlichman

6. Startling Testimony
John Dean testified that Nixon was deeply involved in the cover-up
Alexander Butterfield-presidential aid revealed the presence of recording devices in Nixon’s offices

7. The Saturday Night Massacre
A battle for the “Nixon Tapes” ensued
Archibald Cox-special prosecutor took Nixon to court to obtain the tapes
Nixon refused and ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox.
Richardson refused and resigned, his replacement also refused and was fired
Cox was eventually fired, but his replacement continued to pursue the tapes

8. The Fall of a President
April 30, 1974-Nixon tells the public that he will release 1,254 pages of edited transcripts from the tapes
Failed to satisfy investigators
June 27, 1974-articles of impeachment are approved, tapes are subpoenaed
August 8, 1974-Nixon resigns from office

9. 24.3 Gerald ford

10. Ford travels a rough road
Admitted his limitations as president
“I’m a ford not a Lincoln”
September 8, 1974-ford pardons Richard Nixon in an attempt to move the country beyond Watergate

11. Ford’s economics
“tight Money Policy”-cut government spending and vetoed bills for health, education, and housing
Result: inflation dropped by 10%, unemployment dropped to 8%