Watergate Scandal

“Watergate”  Watergate is a general term to describe a series of complex political scandals ranging from  Watergate specifically is a hotel in Washington D.C. called The Watergate Hotel - This is where the scandal broke

Richard Nixon (R) SStarted his political career in 1947 when he was elected to the House of Representatives IIn 1952, he was chosen to be the running mate of Dwight Eisenhower - Before they were elected into office Nixon was involved in a scandal with receiving illegal funds (reason for the Checker speech)  Lost to JFK in 1960 election by a narrow margin FFinally elected into office in 1969 and became the 37 th president WWon reelection in 1972 for his second term - this is where the scandal begins to unravel.

The Beginning  May 28 th 1972 : Bugging equipment is installed in the Democratic National Committee headquarters at Watergate Hotel and office complex in D.C. (not the first break in)  June 17 th : Hotel guard Frank Wills discovered tape on the basement door lock and removed it. Ten minutes later it had been replaced so Wills called the cops.  At approx. 2:30 A.M. five burglars were arrested. - Bernard Barker, Virgilio Gonzalez, Eugenio Martinez, and Frank Sturgis and James W. McCord (security director for CREEP) - CREEP= Committee for the Re-election of the President

The Beginning Continued….  Aug 30 th : Nixon claimed that John Dean (White House counsel) conducted an investigation into the Watergate break in and found that no one from the White House was involved.  Nov. 11 th : Nixon is reelected

Let the Trials Begin TThe trials of the Watergate 7 begin on Jan. 8 th 1973 (Barker, Gonzalez, Hunt, Liddy, Martinez, McCord and Sturgis) - All but Liddy and McCord pleaded guilty  Liddy and McCord were accused of conspiracy, burglary and wiretapping in the Watergate scandal. (Later convicted) IIn March, McCord wrote a letter to Judge John Sirica stating that: The other five burglars only pleaded guilty because of pressure from John Dean and John Mitchell (Attorney General) in an attempt to cover up the Watergate break in. - This is what sparked the scandal.

Trials  On April 30 th Nixon goes on national television and announces the dismissal of Dean, the resignations of Haldeman and Erlichman (two of his closest advisors) and also the resignation of Attorney General, John Mitchell  May 18 th : The Senate Watergate committee begins its nationally televised hearings. - All of the world watched  June 3 rd 1973: John Dean tells watergate investigators that he had discussed the cover-up at least 35 times with Nixon  In a seven hour testimony Dean also shares detailed plans of political spying activities performed by the White House in recent years

SShortly after, Nixon states that he will not testify and will not grant access to Presidential White House documents. JJuly 13 th : Alexander Butterfield (former presidential sec.) informed the Senate committee of the White House taping system - Recorded every conversation and phone call Nixon has had in his office since 1971 FFive days later, Nixon had the White House taping system disconnected

The Tapes  The Senate Committee orders Nixon to hand over a wide range of tapes and documents -Nixon refuses  July 26 th : The tapes and documents are subpoenaed - Nixon failed to follow the subpoena orders  Finally on Oct. 23 Nixon hands over some of the tapes due to the immense amount of pressure that is leaning on him.

 When the tapes are listened to the committee notices there is an 18 and half minute gap missing ( 5 separate parts) -Rose Mary Woods (Nixon’s sec.), denies purposely erasing the tape.  January 1974: impeachment of President Nixon is starting to be brought up  House of Judiciary begin to investigate if an impeachment is possible  Before the Impeachment trials begin, the S.C. is still trying to get more tapes and documents and all Nixon will provide is more edited documents and tapes.

Impeachment Hearings TThey begin in May 1974 NNixon has several impeachment charges on him: -obstruction of the investigation of the Watergate break-in -misuse of power and violation of his oath of office -failure to comply with the House subpoenas.  In Aug. Nixon releases three conversations that clearly link him to the Watergate break in and cover up AAt this point it is clear that Nixon will be impeached

Resignation of Nixon  Aug. 8 th : Nixon announces his resignation  Richard Nixon was the first president ever to resign  Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38 th president.  Sep 08: Ford grants a “full free and absolute” pardon to Nixon for “all offenses against the United States” committed during his two terms in office.