Richard Nixon “I am not a Crook”. 37 th President of the United States of America Serving from 1969-1974 Worked for the federal government since.
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37th President of the United States of America
Serving from 1969-1974 Worked for the federal government since
1942 Only president to resign the office of the
Presidency Enigma (paradox)
Increase involvement in Vietnam and then helped to end the war
Took a hard line on communism and then ushered in détente
Return power to the States but then increased the power of the federal government
Increased some federal welfare program but dismantled (got rid of ) others
Increased the power of the presidency and then that very power lead to his downfall
Richard M Nixon
Richard M Nixon (R) vs Herbert Humphrey Nixon wins 1968 election
Promises to restore Law and Order Silent Majority Plan to get US out of Vietnam
Decrease the “Credibility Gap”
1968 Presidential Election Year
Saw that people were upset with the big government of LBJ but still wanted the government to provide a basic standard of living
Said he would reverse the flow of power from the States to Washington back from Washington to the States Money would come from the federal
government to fund social programs but the states would control the operations/spending for these social programs
Called “Revenue Sharing”
New Federalism
Nixon continues to increase the power of the executive branch Term coined by Historian
Arthur M Schlesinger, Jr Restoring Law and
Order Illegal wire tapes CIA investigated
American citizens Created the “Enemies
List” List of Americans that
the administration would harass
The Imperial President
There have only been three times that there were five
living presidents at the same times Photo graph
taken at Nixon’ burial 1994.
Distance from Congress
Small group of loyal advisers H.R. Haldeman – chief
of staff John Ehrlichman –
domestic advisor John Mitchell – attorney
general Desire for secrecy and
consolidation of power Developed idea that
they were above the law
The President’s Men
US experienced “stagflation” a recession and inflation at the same time
Causes gov spending money (expanding federal budget deficits –
due to war) no jobs (Rising foreign competition - cost American’s
their jobs) Government gone bad!
Add to Stagflation OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)
Placed an embargo in Israel’s allies Oil prices went up 400% Lasted until spring of 1974 Gas lines became a daily occurrence
Tried to fix it – no real luck
Nixon and the economy
Foreign policy was were it was at National Security advisor – Henry Kissinger Practice “Realpolitik”
Realistic foreign policies should be based on power not morals and ethics
Took a more flexible approach with Soviet Union and China Wanted to ease tension Traveled to China in 1971 Traveled to Soviet Union in 1972
Opened up diplomatic and economic relations with both countries
Made him very popular and was widely received
Nixon and Détente
Had narrowly won in 1968 Wanted to expand his base of support Southern Strategy
Plan to win over the South Targeted blue collar workers and southern whites
who had traditional voted Democratic Some actions taken
Appointed conservative judges to Supreme Court Asked for a freeze on court ordered busing
Plan worked In 1972 won 61% of the popular votes and 520 of
the electoral votes to George McGovern’s 37% and 17
Became first Republican to sweep the entire South
The 1972 Election Campaign
Botched burglary attempt at DNC in Watergate at 2:30 am on June 17, 1972 Photograph documents outlining Dem Party
strategy “bug” the phones
Burglars were tired in 1973 James McCord (one of the burglars – former CIA
agent) charged that the administration had been involved John Mitchell was CReeP director
Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein investigated and uncovered the Watergate Scandal Followed tip from “Deep Throat” (a top FBI official)
Nixon forced to resign on August 8, 1974
Watergate Brings Nixon Down
Cover up began Shredded documents in Halderman’s
office Asked the CIA to stop FBI investigations
into the burglary on the grounds of national security
CReeP gave out $450,000 to the burglars to buy their silence
Events of Watergate
Deep Throat – Mark Felt
Judge John Sirica in the trail of the burglars made it clear he felt the men has not acted alone
James McCord admitted his lied under oath and hinted that members of Nixon’s administration knew
Nixon announced the resignations of Haldeman and Ehrlichman, and John Dean All had been involved in Watergate
Nixon went on TV and denied any attempt to cover up Watergate
Senate begins it own investigation of Watergate
Cover up Unravels
John Dean said that the President had been deeply involved in the cover-up
Alexander Butterfield, an aid to the president, told the committee that Nixon had taped all of his conversations “to help him write his memoirs” http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeQXopJ5U-Q
Testimony
Archibald Cox, special prosecutor for the case asked for the tapes
Nixon refused Nixon ordered Att General Richardson to fire
Cox He would not and resigned Deputy attorney general also refused and he
was fired Finally Solicitor General did fire Cox Event became known as the Saturday Night
Massacre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_
5AndvL7Y9k
Saturday Night Massacre
Spring of 1974 he told Americans that he was going to release 1,254 page doc of edited transcripts
Investigators demanded the unedited tapes Supreme court ruled that he must surrender the tapes
It would not violate national security At a press conference he said, “I am not a crook.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh163n1lJ4M House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of
impeachment Obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of
Congress Nixon released the tapes
Many gaps 18 ½ min gap Tape dated June 23 reveled that he had agreed to the
plan to cover up and obstruct justice Smoking Gun
Nixon Releases the Tapes
The Watergate “Five” (Bob Haldeman, John Mardian, Kenneth Parkinson, John
Ehrlichman, John Mitchell),
Brings a President down and 24 members of his administration
American public becomes cynical/disillusionment with the federal government Truthfulness government falls from 80% to 33%
Congress establishes method for naming an independent counsel to investigate the White House
Shows the System of Checks and Balances really does work The other two branches checked the power of
the presidency
Aftermath of Watergate
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