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The Nixon Era and Watergate
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The Burger Court No, not this…
4 Supreme Court justices retired while Nixon was president Gave him a chance to replace liberal judges with more conservative ones
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The Burger Court 1969 – Warren Burger appointed to replace Chief Justice Earl Warren 3 other justices appointed: Harry Blackmun Lewis Powell William Rehnquist
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Election of 1972 Nixon’s Southern Strategy paid off
Republicans gain control of every Southern state legislature Nixon favored to win easy re-election Soviet/China negotiations AND, Democrats nominated a very liberal, antiwar candidate in Sen. George McGovern (D-SD)
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George McGovern
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The Election of 1972 McGovern’s campaign was a disaster
Dropped his VP (Eagleton) Nixon crushed McGovern in the election, winning 49/50 states
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Election of 1972
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WATERGATE June 17, 1972 – Burglary at the DNC headquarters in the Watergate Building (D.C.) 5 arrested with bugging equipment Working for CREEP (Committee to Re-Elect the President) CREEP = Raised $ through unethical means
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Watergate Building
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CREEP
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WATERGATE Watergate leads to the resignation of many WH aides/advisers
By 1974 29 people charged, pled guilty, or convicted FBI, CIA, and IRS used by Nixon’s men to harass enemies (“enemies list”) Plumbers Unit – Nixon aides determined to stop the “leaking” of information (like Pentagon Papers)
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WATERGATE Senate committee led by Sam Ervin (D-NC) conducted Watergate hearings ( ) John Dean III – Accused several “higher-ups” in the administration, including Nixon, of covering up Watergate (obstruction of justice!) Nixon denied any wrongdoing
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John Dean Testifying
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WATERGATE July 1973 – Evidence emerged of “bugging” equipment in the WH, installed on Nixon’s authority Nixon recorded many conversations in the Oval Office Now Dean’s allegations could be checked against the tapes Nixon refused to hand over the tapes (“Executive Privilege”)
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One of the tape recorders…
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Possible Locations of the “Bugs”
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WATERGATE October 1973 – VP Agnew forced to resign for taking bribes
Agnew replaced by Rep. Gerald Ford (25th Amendment) October 20, 1973 – “Saturday Night Massacre” occurred Nixon ordered the firing of Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor investigating Watergate
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VP Spiro Agnew
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WATERGATE Cox had issued a subpoena for the tapes
The Attorney General refused to fire Cox, so he resigned, along with the Assistant Attorney General
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Saturday Night Massacre
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WATERGATE 1974 – Nixon turned over some parts of the tapes (“relevant” parts) Many of the tapes had missing parts, and were littered with obscenities Nixon refused to hand over any of the remaining tapes Supreme Court ruled in U.S. v. Nixon that he MUST turn them over; executive privilege would not be an excuse
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WATERGATE July 1974 – House Judiciary Committee drew up articles of impeachment against Nixon Obstruction of Justice Contempt of Congress Abuse of Power
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Impeach!
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The Fall of Nixon August 5, 1974 – Nixon released a 1972 tape showing he had ordered a cover-up of the Watergate case President is obstructing justice! Lied to the American people!
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The Fall of Nixon August 8, 1974 – Nixon announced his resignation
August 9, 1974 – Nixon resigned as president
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Nixon’s Resignation Letter
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Nixon Resigns
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Nixon Leaves the White House
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BREAK
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Cambodia and the War Powers Act
Cambodia had actually been bombed by the U.S. as early as 1969 Bombs fell while the U.S. govt. claimed Cambodian neutrality was being respected Congress tried to cut off funding, but Nixon vetoed each time Finally, Congress passed the War Powers Act (1973) to limit presidential war-making powers
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Cambodia and the War Powers Act
2 parts to the War Powers Act: President must inform Congress within 48 hours if troops are sent into a foreign conflict or deployed to a foreign country Troops could stay for only 60 days, unless Congress voted to extend for 30 more days
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The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis
October 1973 – Syria and Egypt attacked Israel US supported Israel with supplies Israel won the war Middle Eastern nations retaliate against the US by setting up an oil embargo US economy suffered greatly
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Yom Kippur War
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Gas Shortages
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The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis
US a net importer of oil, and dependent upon foreign oil Any interruption in oil supplies = interruption in the US economy Congress ordered the building of an Alaskan pipeline, and set up a national speed limit of 55 mph
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The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis
After the embargo, oil prices quadrupled US car manufacturers forced to make more fuel-efficient cars
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