Watergate Nixons Downfall Chapter 24 Section 2 Watergate

Watergate; Nixon’s Downfall Chapter 24, Section 2

Watergate • Watergate offices and apartment complex • Democratic National Convention and headquarters • Scandal centered around Nixon administration’s attempt to cover up a burglary • Scandal started long before the burglary…

An Imperial Presidency • After Great Depression, WWII and in the midst of the Cold War, presidency was most powerful office • Nixon expanded the power of the presidency with little thought to constitutional checks – Impounded funds – Ordered troops to invade Cambodia without congressional approval

The President’s Men • Small group of fiercely loyal advisors – H. R. Haldeman: White House Chief of Staff – John Ehrlichman: Chief Domestic Advisor – John Mitchell: Attorney General • Goals: secrecy, consolidation of power, reelection • “Above the law”

A Bungled Burglary • June 17 th, 1972 at 2: 30 am, a guard at the Watergate complex caught five men breaking into the campaign headquarters at the DNC • Photograph strategies, wiretap phones • James Mc. Cord (group leader) – Former CIA agent – Security coordinator for Committee to Reelect the President • John Mitchell, resigned as Nixon’s AG to run the campaign; he was CRP’s director

The Burglary

A Bungled Burglary Continued… • According to Haldeman, Nixon became obsessed with how to respond to the break -in • Cover-up – Shredded documents – With Nixon’s consent, the White House asked the CIA and FBI to stop investigation on grounds of national security – CRP gave $450, 000 to Watergate burglars to buy their silence after indictment

Woodward and Bernstein • Throughout the 1972 campaign, Watergate generated very little interest • Two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein kept on the story – Uncovered a series of misinformation – “Deep Throat” informant • Provided deep background information, on the condition that Woodward never identify, quote, or use him as a sole source of the information – Members of the administration linked to the break-in • Regardless, Nixon wins reelection

Mark Felt Revealed…

The Cover-Up Unravels • January 1973, Watergate trials begin • Judge John Sirica made clear that he did not believe the men acted alone • A few days before the men were to be sentenced, James Mc. Cord sent a letter to Sirica indicating he lied under oath • Letter hinted powerful members of the Nixon administration had been involved in the break-in

Senate Investigates Watergate • Mc. Cord’s letter sparked public interest • Nixon attempted to thwart the growing concern – Dismissed John Dean – Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Mitchell’s replacement (AG Richard Kleindienst) resigned • Nixon went on television and denied any attempt at a cover-up • Announced he was appointing Elliot Richardson AG and authorizing him to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate • Senate begins its own investigation; “president’s men” testify one after another as Americans watched on their televisions

Startling Testimony • “What did the president know and when did he know it? ” – John Dean admitted the president had been deeply involved in the cover-up – Referred to a meeting with president and his advisors discussing strategies for deceit – Alexander Butterfield, presidential aide, revealed Nixon taped every conversation

Senate Hearings

Saturday Night Massacre • Battle for the “Nixon tapes” • Special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, took the president to court to obtain the tapes • Nixon refused and ordered Richardson to fire Cox • Richardson refused and resigned • Solicitor General (Robert Bork) fired Cox • Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski, seemed just as determined to get tapes

Saturday Night Massacre

Impeachment? • Impeachment: the process of accusing a public official of wrongdoing • Several months after the “massacre, ” the House Judiciary Committee began to examine possibility of an impeachment hearing • Days before the SNM, VP Spiro Agnew resigned because he was taking bribes – Gerald Ford nominated as VP and Congress confirmed

The Fall of a President • In March of 1974, a grand jury indicted seven presidential aides on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury • The Supreme Court demanded Nixon release the taped conversation after months of his failures to satisfy investigators • November 1973 press conference, “I am not a crook”

Three Articles of Impeachment • House Judiciary Committee determined there was enough evidence to impeach Nixon • Three articles – Obstruction of justice – Abuse of power – Contempt of Congress

The Tapes • August 5, 1974, Nixon turns over the tapes – 181/2 minute gap in conversation between him and Haldeman after the break-in – Rose Mary Woods, Nixon’s secretary “accidentally” erased it – Tape from June 23, 1972 indicated Nixon knew about the break in and had agreed to cover it up • Before Congress could impeach him, Nixon resigned

Nixon Resigns

Effects of Watergate • 25 members of Nixon’s administration were convicted and served prison terms • General cynicism toward public officials • Remains the scandal and investigative story against which all others are measured. • “gate”

Watergate’s Legacy