Nixon & Agnew 1972
Behind the scenes
Nixon administration pursued political enemies with
Legal means Illegal means
“dirty tricks” campaign against Vietnam war opponents
Break-in at Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist office (Pentagon papers case)
The PlumbersNickname for secret White
House/CREEP group paid from “slush fund”
May 1972: bugged Democratic Campaign headquarters.
1972-06-12 Arrests at the Watergate
Arrested for breakin at Watergate Hotel headquarters of Democratic Party
James McCord Frank Sturgis Eugenio R. Martinez Virgilio R. Gonzales Bernard L. Barker
6 Convictions James McCord G. Gordon Liddy
RNC security Link b/t Nixon & Burglars
4 other burglars also convicted
Nixon Aids: Doing Time E Howard Hunt Charles Colson
The “evil genius”
More Convictions! John Ehrlichman:
domestic advisor
HR Haldeman:
Chief of staff
Whoa! John Mitchell: Nixon
law partner, Atty General, campaign director
John Dean:
WH legal counsel
1973-10-10 Agnew Resigned Corruption in State of
Maryland Separate Scandal
From Watergate Replaced by Mich.
Senator Gerald Ford
(under provisions of the new 25th amendment)
Ongoing Court & Congressional Inquiry 1973-4
Pivotal Event: Supreme Court orders Nixon to hand
over audio tapes of Oval Office meetings
Tapes reveal widespread conspiracy & coverup in WH
Nixon Resigns 1974-08-09
To my disgust, Pres. Ford pardoned him
WatergateExposed dangers of Presidential
ambition and abuse of powerNixon eventually forced outDemocrats control Congress 1976Legal reforms
Campaign finance reform Special Prosecutor Law CIA & Domestic Spying Reform