Nixon and Watergate

Seeking Reelection Election Context

Political defeats Cambodia Race riots Protestors Vietnam War

Enemies List- list of people (politicians, media, radicals, etc.) he considered a threat to his presidency

Worried about losing the election Spy on rallies and spread rumors about

Democratic opponents

Watergate Hotel

Nixon’s advisers order five men to break in to the Democratic National Convention headquarters (at Watergate hotel complex) Steal sensitive campaign information Plant wiretaps on phones

Security guard calls police Burglars arrested

Watergate Cover-Up James McCord- ex-CIA officer and

member of the Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP) Had been paid from a CRP fund

controlled by the White House White House officials destroy

documents and give false testimony Nixon orders cover-up

Officials ask CIA to stop FBI investigation

FBI director, Mark Felt, leaks information to Washington Post

Election of 1972 Nixon dismisses break-in Tells public the White House had no

involvement Nixon wins reelection with 61% of

popular vote

Watergate Trial

1973, Watergate burglars go on trial

John Dean- presidential counsel, implicates Nixon’s involvement John Mitchell ordered break-in Nixon covered up the White

House involvement Nixon denied charges Tapes of Nixon’s phone

conversations discovered

Watergate Tapes

Nixon refused to hand over the tapes Executive privilege- White House conversations

should remain confidential to protect national security

Nixon fires the lawyer (Archibald Cox) who tried to force him to give up the tapes Damages his reputation with the public

Vice President Spiro Agnew forced to resign Took bribes as governor and Vice President Gerald Ford becomes new VP

Nixon Resigns

Supreme Court rules Nixon has to give up tapes

House Judiciary Committee votes to impeach Nixon (officially charge him with misconduct) Obstructing justice in Watergate cover-up Misuse of federal agencies to violates rights of

citizens Defying Congress by refusing to cooperate

August 9, 1974- Nixon resigns in disgrace Gerald Ford takes oath of office

Impact

Federal Campaign Act- limits campaign contributions and stricter election laws

No one is above the law

Deep distrust of government