Watergate; Nixon’s Downfall Chapter 24, Section 2

Watergate Watergate offices and apartment complex Democratic National Convention and headquarters Scandal centered around Nixon administration’s attempt to cover up a burglary Scandal started long before the burglary…

An Imperial Presidency After Great Depression, WWII and in the midst of the Cold War, presidency was most powerful office Nixon expanded the power of the presidency with little thought to constitutional checks –Impounded funds –Ordered troops to invade Cambodia without congressional approval

The President’s Men Small group of fiercely loyal advisors –H.R. Haldeman: White House Chief of Staff –John Ehrlichman: Chief Domestic Advisor –John Mitchell: Attorney General Goals: secrecy, consolidation of power, re- election “Above the law”

A Bungled Burglary June 17 th, 1972 at 2:30am, a guard at the Watergate complex caught five men breaking into the campaign headquarters at the DNC Photograph strategies, wiretap phones James McCord (group leader) –Former CIA agent –Security coordinator for Committee to Reelect the President John Mitchell, resigned as Nixon’s AG to run the campaign; he was CRP’s director

The Burglary

A Bungled Burglary Continued… According to Haldeman, Nixon became obsessed with how to respond to the break-in Cover-up –Shredded documents –With Nixon’s consent, the White House asked the CIA and FBI to stop investigation on grounds of national security –CRP gave $450,000 to Watergate burglars to buy their silence after indictment

Woodward and Bernstein Throughout the 1972 campaign, Watergate generated very little interest Two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein kept on the story –Uncovered a series of misinformation –“Deep Throat” informant Provided deep background information, on the condition that Woodward never identify, quote, or use him as a sole source of the information –Members of the administration linked to the break-in Regardless, Nixon wins reelection

Mark Felt Revealed…

The Cover-Up Unravels January 1973, Watergate trials begin Judge John Sirica made clear that he did not believe the men acted alone A few days before the men were to be sentenced, James McCord sent a letter to Sirica indicating he lied under oath Letter hinted powerful members of the Nixon administration had been involved in the break-in

Senate Investigates Watergate McCord’s letter sparked public interest Nixon attempted to thwart the growing concern –Dismissed John Dean –Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Mitchell’s replacement (AG Richard Kleindienst) resigned Nixon went on television and denied any attempt at a cover-up Announced he was appointing Elliot Richardson AG and authorizing him to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate Senate begins its own investigation; “president’s men” testify one after another as Americans watched on their televisions

Startling Testimony “What did the president know and when did he know it?” –John Dean admitted the president had been deeply involved in the cover-up –Referred to a meeting with president and his advisors discussing strategies for deceit –Alexander Butterfield, presidential aide, revealed Nixon taped every conversation

Senate Hearings

Saturday Night Massacre Battle for the “Nixon tapes” Special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, took the president to court to obtain the tapes Nixon refused and ordered Richardson to fire Cox Richardson refused and resigned Solicitor General (Robert Bork) fired Cox Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski, seemed just as determined to get tapes

Saturday Night Massacre

Impeachment? Impeachment: the process of accusing a public official of wrongdoing Several months after the “massacre,” the House Judiciary Committee began to examine possibility of an impeachment hearing Days before the SNM, VP Spiro Agnew resigned because he was taking bribes –Gerald Ford nominated as VP and Congress confirmed

The Fall of a President In March of 1974, a grand jury indicted seven presidential aides on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury The Supreme Court demanded Nixon release the taped conversation after months of his failures to satisfy investigators November 1973 press conference, “I am not a crook”

Three Articles of Impeachment House Judiciary Committee determined there was enough evidence to impeach Nixon Three articles –Obstruction of justice –Abuse of power –Contempt of Congress

The Tapes August 5, 1974, Nixon turns over the tapes –181/2 minute gap in conversation between him and Haldeman after the break-in –Rose Mary Woods, Nixon’s secretary “accidentally” erased it –Tape from June 23, 1972 indicated Nixon knew about the break in and had agreed to cover it up Before Congress could impeach him, Nixon resigned

Nixon Resigns

Effects of Watergate 25 members of Nixon’s administration were convicted and served prison terms General cynicism toward public officials Remains the scandal and investigative story against which all others are measured. “gate”

Watergate’s Legacy