The Watergate Scandal Objective Examine the circumstances surrounding
The Watergate Scandal
Objective Examine the circumstances surrounding the Watergate scandal and the impact on the presidency.
Watergate • Hotel/Office building in Washington, DC. • 1972: ______ Party national headquarters • June, ‘ 72: Break-in
Republican ______________ (CREEP) • Raised money, etc. to get Nixon re-elected. • Former Attorney General John Mitchell was director
The __________ • _____ men caught breaking into Democratic offices at Watergate. • Plumbers “stopped leaks” to press, spied on enemies, etc. • Plumbers had ties to ____________ • Most famous are G. Gordon Liddy Howard Hunt
Evidence against CREEP • Plumber had little black book with ______ phone number. • Plumbers were paid $10, 000. Money traced back to CREEP. • Attorneys (employed by ______) showed up to defend the Plumbers despite the fact that the Plumbers hadn’t made a phone call yet.
Nixon orders cover-up • Nixon meets with key advisors about Watergate next day. • Nixon orders _____ to coverup Watergate break-in. • Nixon publicly announces _____ had nothing to do with break-in.
Senate Investigation begins • 7/72: Senate asks ____ to investigate the break -in. • Nixon orders two of his aides to block the CIA investigation. • Nixon Crime #1: _________
Washington Post • _________ investigate break-in. • Publish stories. • Main Source: _________ – 2008: Mark Felt of the FBI • “Uncover the cover-up and Nixon’s involvement.
Watergate Uncovered • Nixon wins 1972 Presidency in a landslide. • Dean giving _____ to people to keep quiet. Promises _____________________ if caught. • March, 1973: Senate says that there is enough evidence of a coverup but cannot link ____________ to the cover-up. • Big break comes at the trial of the “Plumbers”.
Plumbers Trial • Burglars (Plumbers) sentenced to 6 -40 years. • James Mc. Cord, a Plumber, names people in the White House who are involved in cover-up to save himself, including John Dean. • Nixon orders those mentioned by Mc. Cord to __________.
John Dean makes deal • Nixon trying to distance himself from cover-up and put blame on ___________________. • Nixon fires Dean makes deal and testifies against Nixon.
The Turning Point • Nixon secretary tells of Nixon _________ conversations. • Nixon still has tapes that tell of his involvement in coverup
The Nixon Tapes • Oct. ‘ 73: Nixon ordered to hand over tapes to prosecutor. • Nixon refuses citing _________ and __________. • He turns in typed, edited summaries instead.
Talks of Impeachment • 1, 000 letters sent to Congress demanding Nixon’s resignation or impeachment. • 11/73: Nixon turns over ______ tapes. There is 18 minutes missing out of one that talks specifically about Watergate. Nixon says it was ____________________________. • 11/73: House of Reps. begins hearings to decide if they will ________ Nixon on Obstruction of Justice. • Further investigations show there a total of ____ tapes (not just 9) made after Watergate break-in and Nixon kept them all.
Battle with House • Nixon ordered to turn over all tapes to House of Reps. • Nixon refuses. Sends edited transcripts. • House approved 3 articles of impeachment: _____________________
Nixon Problems get worse • 5/74: __________ orders Nixon to release those tapes. • Tapes show that Nixon did indeed order a cover-up and obstructed justice. • Will face impeachment charges and possibly charges as a civilian.
Problems with IRS • _________ became Vice-President in 1973 after ________ had resigned due to tax fraud. • IRS announced Nixon owed ______ in back taxes.
Nixon Resigns • Watch Part 9 • 8/6/74: Nixon resigns before he can be impeached. • Nixon never admitted wrong doing.
President Gerald Ford • Ford becomes president after Nixon resigns. • Ford gives Nixon a _________, ending Watergate controversy.
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