For U.S. – War Over For Vietnam – NOT Over Don’t obey cease-fire 1975: Vietnam unified (comm.) Death Toll U.S. – 58,000 (300,000 injured) Vietnam – 2 million dead Did Communism Spread??? Yes (but not as bad as thought) Laos and Cambodia turn comm. No appreciation to returning troops No warmth/ No parades Physical/ psychological issues $$$ + Death Toll = Distrust Leaders War Powers Act: President must consult Congress within 48 hours if send troops to foreign conflict U.S. – No Foreign INVOLVEMENT Don’t want another “Vietnam”

The Election of 1968 Richard Nixon only narrowly won the 1968 election, but the combined total of popular votes for Nixon and Wallace indicated a shift to the right in American politics. The 1960's began as an era of optimism and possibility and ended in disunity and distrust. The Vietnam war and a series of assassinations and crises eroded public trust in government and produced a backlash against liberal movements and the Democratic party.

SWBAT… identify the charges brought against the President and analyze how this reflects the concept that Nixon was considered an “imperial president” list the major events of the Water Gate scandal and briefly explain them in two column notes. Objectives:

SAY WHAT??? Hush money Slush fund Executive privilege Pardon

Wate rgat e Scand al and the resig natio n of Nixon

The Election of 1972 Despite the growing stain of Watergate, which had not yet reached the President, Nixon won by the largest margin in history to that point.

On June 17, 1972, five men carrying wiretapping equipment were arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee ’ s headquarters located in the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C. On June 17, 1972, five men carrying wiretapping equipment were arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee ’ s headquarters located in the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C.

Watergate Burglars

Bernard Baker Former CIA operative, was involved with Bay of Pigs Virgilio Gonzales Miami locksmith, Cuban refugee James McCord Security co-worker for the Committee to Re-Elect the Presdient (CREP) & former FBI & CIA agent Eugenio Matinez CIA connections and was anti-Castro Cuban Exile Frank Sturgis CIA connections and involved in anti-Castro activities

Questioned by the press, the White House dismissed the incident as “ a third- rate burglary attempt. ” Pressed further, President Nixon himself denied any White House involvement. Questioned by the press, the White House dismissed the incident as “ a third- rate burglary attempt. ” Pressed further, President Nixon himself denied any White House involvement.

In fact, G. Gordon Liddy & E. Howard Hunt, were former FBI and CIA agents currently working for Nixon ’ s Committee to Re-elect the President. Their job was to protect the Nixon administration, anyway necessary, legal or not. In fact, G. Gordon Liddy & E. Howard Hunt, were former FBI and CIA agents currently working for Nixon ’ s Committee to Re-elect the President. Their job was to protect the Nixon administration, anyway necessary, legal or not. Howard Hunt G. Gordon Liddy

Hunt and Libby had arranged for the illegal wiretaps (listening devices) at the Democratic headquarters, part of their campaign of ‘ dirty tricks ’ against the rival Democratic party. Hunt and Libby had arranged for the illegal wiretaps (listening devices) at the Democratic headquarters, part of their campaign of ‘ dirty tricks ’ against the rival Democratic party.

The Watergate incident was not an isolated incident. It was part of a pattern of illegality and misuse of power by a paranoid and ruthless White House and an imperial president. The Watergate incident was not an isolated incident. It was part of a pattern of illegality and misuse of power by a paranoid and ruthless White House and an imperial president.

Nixon could have dissociated himself from the break-in by dismissing his guilty aides, but it was election time. Fearful of bad press, he arranged hush money for the burglars and instructed the CIA to stop the FBI investigation. Nixon could have dissociated himself from the break-in by dismissing his guilty aides, but it was election time. Fearful of bad press, he arranged hush money for the burglars and instructed the CIA to stop the FBI investigation.

Ordering the CIA to stop the FBI from investigating the Watergate incident was an obstruction of justice, a criminal offense. Ordering the CIA to stop the FBI from investigating the Watergate incident was an obstruction of justice, a criminal offense.

Nixon managed to keep the lid on the incident until after his re-election, but eventually the lid blew off due to congressional investigations. Nixon managed to keep the lid on the incident until after his re-election, but eventually the lid blew off due to congressional investigations.

In January 1973, the Watergate burglars were found guilty. One of them began to talk about his White House connections. In January 1973, the Watergate burglars were found guilty. One of them began to talk about his White House connections.

In the meantime, two reporters at the Washington Post, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, uncovered the Committee ’ s to Re- elects illegal “ slush fund ’ and its links to key White House aides. Received all info from an anonymous informant - “deep throat” In the meantime, two reporters at the Washington Post, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, uncovered the Committee ’ s to Re- elects illegal “ slush fund ’ and its links to key White House aides. Received all info from an anonymous informant - “deep throat”

The slush fund received its money illegally from the campaign contributions of the Republican party to finance “ mischief ” against anyone that posed a threat to the Nixon administration. The slush fund received its money illegally from the campaign contributions of the Republican party to finance “ mischief ” against anyone that posed a threat to the Nixon administration.

In May, a Senate committee began holding nationally televised hearings, at which it was discovered that the Watergate break-in was linked to the White House. In May, a Senate committee began holding nationally televised hearings, at which it was discovered that the Watergate break-in was linked to the White House. Attorney General John Mitchell, controlled secret “slush fund.”

The guilty White House officials implicated President Nixon. During the testimony, it was discovered that Nixon had installed a secret taping system in the Oval office. The guilty White House officials implicated President Nixon. During the testimony, it was discovered that Nixon had installed a secret taping system in the Oval office.

Claiming executive privilege, Nixon refused to surrender the White House tapes. Under enormous pressure, he eventually released some of the tapes. One of the tapes was suspiciously missing 18-minutes of recording. Claiming executive privilege, Nixon refused to surrender the White House tapes. Under enormous pressure, he eventually released some of the tapes. One of the tapes was suspiciously missing 18-minutes of recording.

Finally on June 23, 1974, the Supreme Court ordered Nixon to release the unaltered tapes. Lawyers were shocked to find concrete evidence that the president had ordered the cover-up of the Watergate break-in. Finally on June 23, 1974, the Supreme Court ordered Nixon to release the unaltered tapes. Lawyers were shocked to find concrete evidence that the president had ordered the cover-up of the Watergate break-in.

By then, the House of Representatives had began to consider articles of impeachment, to remove the president from office. By then, the House of Representatives had began to consider articles of impeachment, to remove the president from office.

Primary Source Discovery What charges did the House of Representatives bring against President Nixon during the impeachment process? Highlight, circle, or underline the parts of the document that answer these questions: 1. What is the main charge being brought against the President in each Article? 2. In Article I, what event is Nixon charged with covering up? 3. Identify at least six methods the President was accused of using to cover up the June 17, 1972 break ‐ in at the Watergate. 4. In Article II, identify four ways that the President allegedly violated the constitutional rights of citizens. 5. According to Article III, in what way did Nixon violate the principle of separation of powers? 6. In what ways do these Articles support the assessment of the Nixon administration as an “imperial Presidency”?

Certain that he would be convicted by the Senate, on August 9, 1974, Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign from office. Certain that he would be convicted by the Senate, on August 9, 1974, Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign from office.

Gerald Ford swears in as President of the United States.

The next day, Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as president. Congressman Ford had replaced Vice President Spiro Agnew, who had himself resigned in 1973 for accepting “ kickbacks ” while governor of Maryland. The next day, Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as president. Congressman Ford had replaced Vice President Spiro Agnew, who had himself resigned in 1973 for accepting “ kickbacks ” while governor of Maryland.

A month later, Ford stunned the nation by granting Nixon a “ full, free, and absolute “ pardon ” for all offenses he had committed or might have committed during his presidency. ” A month later, Ford stunned the nation by granting Nixon a “ full, free, and absolute “ pardon ” for all offenses he had committed or might have committed during his presidency. ”

President Ford took that action, he said, to spare the country the agony of Nixon ’ s criminal prosecution. He felt the country needed to move on. President Ford took that action, he said, to spare the country the agony of Nixon ’ s criminal prosecution. He felt the country needed to move on.

One lesson of Watergate – that, in America, the rule of law prevailed. No one is above the law, not even the president. One lesson of Watergate – that, in America, the rule of law prevailed. No one is above the law, not even the president.

A second lesson involved the constitutional separation of powers. As commander-in-chief, Nixon asserted unlimited authority, excusing his wiretapping. The president does not have absolute power due to checks & balances. A second lesson involved the constitutional separation of powers. As commander-in-chief, Nixon asserted unlimited authority, excusing his wiretapping. The president does not have absolute power due to checks & balances.

Congress pushed back against the abuses of the Nixon administration, passing the War Powers Act (1973), limiting the president ’ s ability to deploy U.S. forces without congressional approval. Congress pushed back against the abuses of the Nixon administration, passing the War Powers Act (1973), limiting the president ’ s ability to deploy U.S. forces without congressional approval.

Congress passed the Freedom of Information Act (1974), protecting privacy and access to federal records, and the Fair Campaign Practices Act (1974), limiting and regulating contributions in presidential campaigns. Congress passed the Freedom of Information Act (1974), protecting privacy and access to federal records, and the Fair Campaign Practices Act (1974), limiting and regulating contributions in presidential campaigns.

Lastly, Congress passed the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (1978), prohibiting domestic wiretapping without a warrant. Lastly, Congress passed the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (1978), prohibiting domestic wiretapping without a warrant.