Nixon Narrow victory in ‘68 At odds with Democrat-controlled Congress Welfare Revenue sharing-social program compromise Had a very tight inner circle of advisors(Dean, Mitchell, Erlichman, Haldeman) Used federal agencies to create “enemies list” Attempt at gaining Southern support Positives: Moon landing Ending Vietnam War Détente-China and USSR trips Narrow victory in ‘68 At odds with Democrat-controlled Congress Welfare Revenue sharing-social program compromise Had a very tight inner circle of advisors(Dean, Mitchell, Erlichman, Haldeman) Used federal agencies to create “enemies list” Attempt at gaining Southern support Positives: Moon landing Ending Vietnam War Détente-China and USSR trips
Given chance to change face of Supreme Court Problems with economy US experiences stagflation All attempts to fix it fail Situation will worsen even after Nixon is out of office Primary reasons for bad economy: Deficit spending during Vietnam War Other countries rise as economic powers US workforce grew faster than # of new jobs OPEC crisis and the 1973 Yom Kippur War 1972 election “peace is at hand” in Vietnam, slightly improved economic indicators and McGovern’s far left ideas allow Nixon stomp McGovern like a grape in a wine factory.(over 60% of popular vote and 49 of 50 states in the electoral college) Given chance to change face of Supreme Court Problems with economy US experiences stagflation All attempts to fix it fail Situation will worsen even after Nixon is out of office Primary reasons for bad economy: Deficit spending during Vietnam War Other countries rise as economic powers US workforce grew faster than # of new jobs OPEC crisis and the 1973 Yom Kippur War 1972 election “peace is at hand” in Vietnam, slightly improved economic indicators and McGovern’s far left ideas allow Nixon stomp McGovern like a grape in a wine factory.(over 60% of popular vote and 49 of 50 states in the electoral college)
Losing the 1960 election causes increased paranonia in Nixon Taking his enemies list a few steps further, Nixon orders the plumbers to break into Ellsberg’s doctors office Brief Watergate timeline: June Plumbers are caught at Watergate Hotel planting bugs at DNC HQ. Dean denies link October FBI establishes link between Watergate and massive spying operation conducted by CREEP January 1973-Liddy, McCord and 5 others are convicted for Watergate incident Feb. ‘73-My 1st Birthday Party, should have been there April Haldeman, Erlichmann, and AG resign, Dean is fired Losing the 1960 election causes increased paranonia in Nixon Taking his enemies list a few steps further, Nixon orders the plumbers to break into Ellsberg’s doctors office Brief Watergate timeline: June Plumbers are caught at Watergate Hotel planting bugs at DNC HQ. Dean denies link October FBI establishes link between Watergate and massive spying operation conducted by CREEP January 1973-Liddy, McCord and 5 others are convicted for Watergate incident Feb. ‘73-My 1st Birthday Party, should have been there April Haldeman, Erlichmann, and AG resign, Dean is fired
May 1973 Senate Watergate Committee begins hearing, Cox is appointed special prosecutor June Dean admits discussing cover-up with Nixon at least 35 times. Mitchell denies it. June-July 1973-Memos begin to surface and it is revealed all conversations are recorded in White House. Nixon refuses to turn over tapes. October “Saturday Night Massacre”. Nixon fires Cox, abolishes office of special prosecutor, more staffers resign Pressure to impeach begins to build November Nixon declares “I am not a crook” December /2 minutes of tape is deleted (the smoking gun) May 1973 Senate Watergate Committee begins hearing, Cox is appointed special prosecutor June Dean admits discussing cover-up with Nixon at least 35 times. Mitchell denies it. June-July 1973-Memos begin to surface and it is revealed all conversations are recorded in White House. Nixon refuses to turn over tapes. October “Saturday Night Massacre”. Nixon fires Cox, abolishes office of special prosecutor, more staffers resign Pressure to impeach begins to build November Nixon declares “I am not a crook” December /2 minutes of tape is deleted (the smoking gun)
February 1974-My 2nd birthday party, it was a real hoot July Supreme Court states Nixon cannot hide behind executive privilege, he must turn over tapes July 27, House passes 1st of 3 articles of impeachment (obstruction of justice) August Nixon becomes 1st President to resign office September President Ford grants Nixon a pardon Ford urged America to put Watergate in the past Economy continues to worsen during Ford Administration Ford’s attempts to fix economy do not work Nixon’s pardon, a weak economy and an average foreign policy costs Ford the ‘76 election February 1974-My 2nd birthday party, it was a real hoot July Supreme Court states Nixon cannot hide behind executive privilege, he must turn over tapes July 27, House passes 1st of 3 articles of impeachment (obstruction of justice) August Nixon becomes 1st President to resign office September President Ford grants Nixon a pardon Ford urged America to put Watergate in the past Economy continues to worsen during Ford Administration Ford’s attempts to fix economy do not work Nixon’s pardon, a weak economy and an average foreign policy costs Ford the ‘76 election