32.2 watergate: nixon’s downfall

32.2 WATERGATE: NIXON’S DOWNFALL

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:WHAT EVENTS TOGETHER, ARE KNOWN AS THE WATERGATE SCANDAL?

WHY WAS THE WATERGATE SCANDAL ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL CRISES OF AMERICAN HISTORY?

KEY TERMSWatergateH.R. HaldemanJohn EhrlichmanJohn MitchellCommittee to Reelect the PresidentJudge John SiricaSaturday Night Massacre

WATERGATE: KEY DATESJune 17, 1972- Watergate BurglariesSeptember 1972- Watergate Burglars indicted January 1973- Burglary Trial beginsMarch 20, 1973- James McCord’s Letter to Judge John SiricaApril 30, 1973- Resignation of Dean, Haldeman, and Erhlichman May 1973- Senate Investigation BeginsOctober 1973- Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox sues to obtain the Nixon tapesOctober 20, 1973- Saturday Night MassacreMarch 1974- Mitchell, Ehrlichman, and Haldeman indicted July 24, 1974- Supreme Court orders Nixon to give up un-edited tapesJuly 27, 1974- House Judicial Committee votes to impeach NixonAugust 5, 1974- Nixon releases unedited tapesAugust 8, 1974- Nixon resigns

NIXON’S WHITE HOUSEImperial Presidency

• Executive Branch of gov. had become to powerful by Nixon’s election• Constitutional checks on executive power went ignored under Nixon

The “President’s Men”• Trusted group of advisors around Nixon

• H.R. Haldeman, John Dean, John Ehrlichman, John Mitchell1972 Reelection Campaign

• Wanted to win landslide victory- By any means necessary • Democrats nominate George McGovern

H.R. HALDEMAN

JOHN EHLRICHMAN

JOHN MITCHELL

JOHN DEAN

THE CRP & THE PLUMBERSThe “Plumbers”

• Group that was meant to stop leaks from the Nixon Administration to the media

• Also aided Nixon through other- sometimes illegal- waysCRP- Committee to Re-elect the President

• Headed by John Mitchell • Organization and funding for Nixon’s re-election campaign

CRP

BURGLARY AT WATERGATEJune 17, 1972- 2:30 a.m. DC police arrest five men that had broke into the DNC offices at the Watergate ComplexMen arrested were part of the “plumbers”Trying to steal information and wiretap the phone lines at the DNCJames McCord, former CIA agent and official in the CRP is one of men arrestedInstead of admitting to it, Nixon decides to cover it up

• Why?Did not gain much media attention during the 1972 CampaignDefeats George McGovern in a landslide

WATERGATE COMPLEX

GEORGE MCGOVERN

WATERGATE INVESTIGATIONBurglars Indicted in September 1972- bribed with nearly $500,000 From CRP for their silenceNixon orders CIA to stop FBI investigation

• National Security IssueTrial begins in Jan. 1973

• All but McCord plea Guilty• McCord found guilty

McCord hints to Judge John Sirica that high profile members of the Nixon administration knew about break-in

JUDGE JOHN SIRICA

“THERE CAN BE NO WHITEWASH AT THE WHITE HOUSE”

April 30, 1973- Nixon fires Dean, Haldeman, and EhrlichmanGoes on National TV announces that Attorney General Elliot Richardson will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate WatergateMay 1973- Senate begins investigation into Watergate- led by N.C. Senator Sam ErvinMembers of the Nixon Administration began to testify- and revealed much about the cover-up

SEN. SAM ERVIN (D- N.C.)

“WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?” – SEN. HOWARD BAKER

John Dean- revealed the president had been deeply involved in the cover-up

• John Mitchell quickly denied that claimAlexander Butterfield- exposed that Nixon had taped almost all of his presidential conversationsThe “Nixon Tapes” became subject of a year long battle between the Senate and White House

THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACREArchibald Cox, special prosecutor took Nixon to court in October of 1973 over the tapesNixon ordered Attorney General Richardson and his deputy to fire Cox – They refused and were firedRobert Bork did fire Cox, but Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski continued investigationOther Problems:VP Spiro Agnew is forced to resign for accepting bribes

• Gerald Ford become VPRevealed Nixon hadn’t paid his taxes- led to famous “I am not a crook” statement

ARCHIBALD COX

NIXON’S FALLMarch 1974- Grand Jury Indicts Haldeman, Mitchell, Ehrlichman, and four other aids on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.April 30, 1974- Nixon releases tapes- although edited – does not help Nixon’s public image

• Refused to release unedited tapes July 24, 1974- Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tapesJuly 27, 1974- House votes on Impeachment

• Charged with Obstruction of Justice, Abuse of Power, and Contempt of Congress

RESIGNATIONAugust 5, 1974- Nixon releases the unedited tapes- Revealed Nixon knew, and actively covered up the FBI investigationAugust 8, 1974- Nixon Resigns- Ford become President

Reflection Question:• What primary effect do you believe the Watergate scandal

had on the American Public?