1. II. Politics in Flux

2. Questions to Consider:
How was the Watergate burglary an example of a broad pattern of abuse of power by the Nixon White House?
What were the political effects of the scandal- both short term and long term?

3. Outline: Watergate and the Fall of a President The Break-in
The Cover-up
Investigation
Legislative response
Watergate Babies
Political Realignment

4. Outline:
2. Jimmy Carter: Outsider as President a. The Campaign b. Carter’s appeal c. Inexperience d. Domestic Policy e. “Crisis of Confidence”

5. 1. Watergate and the Fall of a President

6. A Cartoon History of the Watergate Scandal
Caption?

7. A Cartoon History of the Watergate Scandal

8. a. The Break-in
Break in occurred on June 17, James McCord was member of CREEP- paid for the break-in.
Security guard Frank Wills discovered tape over a door lock and called the police on June 17, 1972.

9. a. The Break-in
Break in occurred on June 17, James McCord was member of CREEP- paid for the break-in.
Ex CIA officials caught breaking into Watergate Hotel to steal info from Democratic National Headquarters.

10. Stage 1: the Watergate Break-In

11. Stage 1: the Watergate Break-In

12. b. The Cover-up
Nixon denies any connection, orders the CIA to stop an FBI investigation and arranges hush money for the burglars. He then wins reelection by a landslide.

13. c. Investigation
Media (led by Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward) discovers link to the Committee to Reelect the President (CREEP).

14. Stage 2: Investigations Begin

15. Stage 2: Investigations Begin

16. c. Investigation
Federal judge John J. Sirica pressured James McCord (one of the burglars) to cooperate.
Federal judge John J. Sirica pressured James McCord to cooperate and a flood of confessions followed- bringing other White House officials under scrutiny. In June 1973, special counsel to the president, John Dean testified that the Attorney General John Mitchell had ordered the Watergate break-in an Nixon was active in cover-up.

17. c. Investigation
In June 1973, special counsel to the president, John Dean, testified that Attorney John Mitchel ordered the break-in and Nixon was part of cover-up.
Federal judge John J. Sirica pressured James McCord to cooperate and a flood of confessions followed- bringing other White House officials under scrutiny. In June 1973, special counsel to the president, John Dean testified that the Attorney General John Mitchell had ordered the Watergate break-in an Nixon was active in cover-up.

18. Watergate Scandal:
Ex CIA officials caught breaking into Watergate Hotel to steal info from Democratic National Headquarters.
Media (led by Washington Post) discovers link to the Committee to Reelect the President (CREEP).
Nixon denies connection to the burglary, orders a cover-up and wins 1972 reelection by a landslide.
Nixon officials admit to cover-up and secret White House tapes confirm Nixon’s involvement.
Nixon resigns in August 1974 to avoid impeachment.

19. Watergate Scandal:
On July 16, 1973 White House aide Alexander Butterfield testified that Nixon had a taping system in the White House and recorded all conversations (to help him write his memoirs).
On July 16, 1973 White House aide Alexander Butterfield testified that Nixon had tape recorded all conversations in the White House.

20. Watergate Scandal:
Nixon does not surrender the tapes- claiming executive privilege- tapes should be confidential to maintain national security. Special prosecutor Archibald Cox sues Nixon for the tapes and Nixon tries to have Cox fired by Attorney General Elliot Richardson. Richardson resigns in protest and Cox is fired anyway (Saturday Night Massacre). This further damages Nixon’s reputation.

21. Watergate Scandal:
Nixon agrees to give up partial transcripts in April 1974, claiming to prove his innocence. Prosecutors want more and the Supreme Court agrees- ruling he must turn over the tapes. One of the tapes had a suspicious 18 ½ minute gap, which White House secretary Rose Mary Woods claimed she accidentally erased.

22. Watergate Scandal:
One of the unedited tapes revealed that six days after the Watergate burglary, Nixon ordered the CIA to stop the FBI investigation. The “smoking gun” tapes lead to Nixon’s resignation (the House Judiciary committee had already voted to impeach).

23. Watergate Scandal:
On August 9, 1974, Nixon announces his resignation. He then gives the double peace sign and boards Marine One.

24. Effects of Political Scandal
Congress passes laws to limit power of president and reform campaign finance.
Public loses trust in government.

25. Effects of Political Scandal
Federal Campaign Act Amendments limited campaign contributions. The Ethics in Govt. act required financial disclosure by high government officials. The FBI Domestic Security Investigation Guidelines restricted the bureau’s political intelligence-gathering activities. Congress also established a means for appointing an independent counsel to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing by govt. officials.

26. Gerald Ford Pardons Nixon
One month after resignation, Ford wanted country to move on.
Approval rating drops from 71 to 50%.
Gerald Ford served 25 years as a congressman from Michigan and was the Republican Minority Leader when Nixon picked him to replace Vice President Spiro Agnew (under terms of 25th Amendment). He served as both Vice President and President without being elected by the Electoral College.

27. Gerald Ford Pardons Nixon
Ford struggled to beat stagflation- calling for voluntary cuts in consumption (failed). He called for reduced govt. spending and low taxes- vetoing 50 bills that the Democratic-led Congress passed.

28. Gerald Ford Pardons Nixon