1. THE RISE AND FALL OF RICHARD NIXON
“Publicly, we say one thing….actually, we do another.” -Richard Nixon

2. THE WATERGATE BREAK-IN
5 men were caught breaking into the Democratic Party National Headquarters in Washington, DC.
They were installing bugging equipment on the phones
They worked for:
CREEP: Committee to re-elect the President
Reporters begin to question the break-in
White house denied involvement
Duncan, David D. Richard Nixon Harry Ransom Center, Austin. HRC Online Exhibition. The University of Texas at Austin. 3 June 2007 <
"United State Foreign Policy for the 1970's." From Revolution to Reconstruction... and What Happened Afterwards. 6 Mar June 2007 <
The scandal is called Watergate because the DNC Headquarters was located in the Watergate building

3. The Investigation Begins
Reporters at Washington Post pursued story
One Watergate burglar, James McCord, began cooperating with investigation
McCord exposed:
Illegal activities of close advisors of Nixon
Nixon had an enemy’s list
Slowly linked it to Nixon’s advisors and then the cover-up to Nixon
"State of the Union Address: Richard Nixon (January 22, 1970)." Infoplease.Com. 12 Nov June 2007 <
Mugshot of James McCord, ex-CIA Agent caught in Watergate break-in

4. Congressional Hearings Reveal:
To ensure re-election of Nixon:
Burglars were to tap phones at Democratic Party Headquarters in Watergate complex
Nixon had an enemy’s list
Used FBI and IRS to harass and investigate opponents
Nixon campaign spread false rumors and accusations about Democratic opponents
Organizers:
Plumbers: Stop leaks to media of secret info
CREEP: Committee to re-elect the President
"United State Foreign Policy for the 1970's." From Revolution to Reconstruction... and What Happened Afterwards. 6 Mar June 2007 <
Plumbers weren’t really plumbers- just a nickname since they were to “stop leaks”

5. Congressional Hearings
Members of Nixon’s staff were convicted of burglary
Director of FBI resigned for destroying evidence
Testimony exposes that Nixon secretly tapes every conversation in the Oval Office
UH OH: Nixon’s Vice-President Spiro Agnew forced to resign on unrelated bribery charges
"Richard M. Nixon Second Inaugural Address Washington D.C." Home of Heroes. 1 June 2007 <

6. The Secret Nixon Tapes
Prosecutor subpoenas tapes to see if Nixon was involved in Watergate
Nixon claims executive privilege:
Conversations should remain confidential to protect national security
Supreme Court orders Nixon to turn over tapes
Tapes reveal:
Nixon knowingly violated the law & tried to cover-up Watergate break-in
Punishing political opponents
Tapes have section erased
Nixon is a “potty mouth”
He loses public support
Anonymous. Mao Zedong in the Cultural Revolution Wikipedia. 3 June 2007 <
Chiang Kai-Shek Wikipedia. 3 June 2007 <

7. NIXON IS IMPEACHED AND RESIGNS
Nixon charged with
Obstruction of justice
Misuse of federal agencies to violate rights of citizens
Defying authority of Congress
Nixon resigns – says he does not want nation distracted by his problems
Gerald Ford (Speaker of the House) becomes ONLY unelected president
United States. National Safety Council. Draft Response to National Security Study Memorandum Oct June 2007 <

8. IMPACT OF WATERGATE ON U.S.
Federal Campaign Act Amendments
Limited campaign contributions & stricter election laws
Gerald Ford – unelected President
Nixon pardoned by Ford, never found guilty of crimes
Americans no longer trust their government
White House Photo Office. President Nixon Meets... Mao Tse-Tung Nixon Presidential Materials, College Park, Maryland. Wikipedia. U.S. National Archives. 4 June 2007