Nixon and Watergate. The Election of 1968 Richard Nixon only narrowly won the 1968 election, but the combined total of popular votes for Nixon and Wallace.

Nixon and Nixon and WatergateWatergate

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968

Richard Nixon only narrowly won the 1968 election, but the Richard Nixon only narrowly won the 1968 election, but the combined total of popular votes for Nixon and Wallace indicated a combined total of popular votes for Nixon and Wallace indicated a shift to the right in American politics. shift to the right in American politics.

The 1960's began as an era of optimism and possibility and ended The 1960's began as an era of optimism and possibility and ended in disunity and distrust. in disunity and distrust.

The Vietnam war and a series of assassinations and crises eroded The Vietnam war and a series of assassinations and crises eroded public trust in government and produced a backlash against public trust in government and produced a backlash against liberal movements and the Democratic party. liberal movements and the Democratic party.

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968

Nixon campaigned as a Nixon campaigned as a champion of the "silent champion of the "silent majority," the hardworking majority," the hardworking Americans who paid taxes, Americans who paid taxes, did not demonstrate, and did not demonstrate, and desired a restoration of desired a restoration of "law and order.”"law and order.”

He vowed to restore He vowed to restore respect for the rule of law, respect for the rule of law, reconstitute the stature of reconstitute the stature of America, dispose of America, dispose of ineffectual social ineffectual social programs, and provide programs, and provide strong leadership to end strong leadership to end the turmoil of the 1960's. the turmoil of the 1960's.

Daniel Ellsberg and the Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers Pentagon Papers

Daniel Ellsberg was an employee Daniel Ellsberg was an employee of the Defense Department who of the Defense Department who leaked a classified assessment of leaked a classified assessment of the Vietnam War in 1971.the Vietnam War in 1971.

The 7,000 page document came The 7,000 page document came to be known as the Pentagon to be known as the Pentagon Papers.Papers.

They cast doubt on the They cast doubt on the justification for entry into the justification for entry into the war and revealed that senior war and revealed that senior government officials had serious government officials had serious misgivings about the war. misgivings about the war.

When the When the New York Times New York Times and and Washington PostWashington Post began to began to publish the Pentagon Papers, the publish the Pentagon Papers, the Nixon Administration sued them.Nixon Administration sued them.

The Supreme Court ruled that The Supreme Court ruled that the papers could continue to the papers could continue to publish the documents. publish the documents.

The White House The White House PlumbersPlumbers

After the release of the After the release of the Pentagon Papers, the White Pentagon Papers, the White House created a unit to House created a unit to ensure internal security. ensure internal security.

This unit was called the This unit was called the Plumbers because they Plumbers because they stopped leaks.stopped leaks.

In 1971 they burglarized the In 1971 they burglarized the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist, psychiatrist, seeking seeking material to discredit himmaterial to discredit him. .

It was later revealed that It was later revealed that Nixon’s domestic advisor Nixon’s domestic advisor John Ehrlichman knew of and John Ehrlichman knew of and approved the plan.approved the plan.

Howard Hunt G. Gordon Liddy

James McCord Chuck Colson

The Watergate Break-inThe Watergate Break-in When initial polls showed When initial polls showed

Nixon in the Election of 1972, Nixon in the Election of 1972, the Plumbers turned their the Plumbers turned their activities to political activities to political espionage.espionage.

On 17 June 1972, 5 men were On 17 June 1972, 5 men were arrested while attempting to arrested while attempting to bug the headquarters of the bug the headquarters of the Democratic Party inside the Democratic Party inside the Watergate building in Watergate building in Washington D.C. Washington D.C.

One of the men arrested, One of the men arrested, James McCord, was the head James McCord, was the head of security for the Republican of security for the Republican Party. Party.

The Nixon campaign denied The Nixon campaign denied any involvement.any involvement.

Woodward, Bernstein and Woodward, Bernstein and the the Washington PostWashington Post

Watergate came to public attention largely through the work Watergate came to public attention largely through the work of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, investigative reporters of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, investigative reporters from the from the Washington PostWashington Post. .

Despite enormous political pressure, Despite enormous political pressure, PostPost editor Ben Bradlee, editor Ben Bradlee, publisher Katherine Graham, Woodward and Bernstein, aided publisher Katherine Graham, Woodward and Bernstein, aided by an enigmatic source nicknamed “Deepthroat” kept the by an enigmatic source nicknamed “Deepthroat” kept the story in the public consciousness until Nixon’s resignation.story in the public consciousness until Nixon’s resignation.

Watergate Enters the Nixon Watergate Enters the Nixon CampaignCampaign

The break-in was eventually The break-in was eventually tied to the Nixon reelection tied to the Nixon reelection campaign through a $25,000 campaign through a $25,000 check from a Republican check from a Republican donor that was laundered donor that was laundered through a Mexican bank and through a Mexican bank and deposited in the account of deposited in the account of Watergate burglar Bernard Watergate burglar Bernard Barker. Barker.

Later it was discovered that Later it was discovered that Former Attorney General Former Attorney General John Mitchell, head of Nixon’s John Mitchell, head of Nixon’s “Committee to Re-Elect the “Committee to Re-Elect the President,” (CREEP) President,” (CREEP) controlled a secret fund for controlled a secret fund for political espionage. political espionage.

Mitchell would later go to Mitchell would later go to prison for his role in the prison for his role in the scandal scandal

The Election of 1972The Election of 1972

Despite the growing stain of Watergate, which had not yet Despite the growing stain of Watergate, which had not yet reached the President, Nixon won by the largest margin in reached the President, Nixon won by the largest margin in history to that point.history to that point.

The Watergate The Watergate Investigations: Judge John Investigations: Judge John

SiricaSirica Watergate came to be Watergate came to be

investigated by a Special investigated by a Special Prosecutor, a Senate Prosecutor, a Senate committee, and by the judge in committee, and by the judge in the original break-in case.the original break-in case.

Judge Sirica refused to believe Judge Sirica refused to believe that the burglars had acted that the burglars had acted alone. alone.

In March 1973, defendant In March 1973, defendant James W. McCord sent a letter James W. McCord sent a letter to Sirica confirming that it was to Sirica confirming that it was a conspiracy. a conspiracy.

Sirica’s investigation Sirica’s investigation transformed Watergate from transformed Watergate from the story of a “third-rate the story of a “third-rate burglary” to a scandal reaching burglary” to a scandal reaching the highest points in the highest points in government.government.

Senate Investigation and Senate Investigation and the Oval Office Tapesthe Oval Office Tapes

The Senate began hearings The Senate began hearings into Watergate in May 1973. into Watergate in May 1973.

The hearings were televised The hearings were televised in their entirety. in their entirety.

They focused on when the They focused on when the President knew of the break-President knew of the break-in. in.

In June 1973, former White In June 1973, former White House legal counsel John House legal counsel John Dean delivered devastating Dean delivered devastating testimony that implicated testimony that implicated Nixon from the earliest days Nixon from the earliest days of Watergate. of Watergate.

Senate Investigation and Senate Investigation and the Oval Office Tapesthe Oval Office Tapes

The Administration was eager to discredit Dean and his The Administration was eager to discredit Dean and his testimony so it began to release factual challenges to his account. testimony so it began to release factual challenges to his account.

When former White House aide Alexander Butterfield was asked When former White House aide Alexander Butterfield was asked about the source of the White House information, he revealed the about the source of the White House information, he revealed the existence of an automatic taping system that Nixon had secretly existence of an automatic taping system that Nixon had secretly installed in the Oval Office. installed in the Oval Office.

These tapes would become the focus of the investigation.These tapes would become the focus of the investigation.

The Smoking Gun TapesThe Smoking Gun Tapes When the Supreme Court forced When the Supreme Court forced

Nixon to surrender the tapes.Nixon to surrender the tapes. Nixon was implicated from the Nixon was implicated from the

earliest days of the cover-up:earliest days of the cover-up: authorizing the payment of hush authorizing the payment of hush

moneymoney attempting to use the CIA to attempting to use the CIA to

interfere with the FBI interfere with the FBI investigation. investigation.

One tape has an 18 ½ minute One tape has an 18 ½ minute gap. gap.

Nixon’s secretary Rosemary Nixon’s secretary Rosemary Woods demonstrated how she Woods demonstrated how she could have inadvertently erased could have inadvertently erased the tape, but no one bought it. the tape, but no one bought it.

““The smoking gun tapes,” were The smoking gun tapes,” were released in August 1974, just released in August 1974, just after the House Judiciary after the House Judiciary Committee approved Articles of Committee approved Articles of Impeachment against Nixon. Impeachment against Nixon.

The Saturday Night The Saturday Night Massacre Massacre

The Administration reached The Administration reached an agreement with the an agreement with the Senate Watergate Committee Senate Watergate Committee that its Chairman would be that its Chairman would be allowed to listen to tapes and allowed to listen to tapes and provide a transcript to the provide a transcript to the Committee and to Special Committee and to Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. Prosecutor Archibald Cox.

The deal broke down when The deal broke down when Cox refused to accept the Cox refused to accept the transcripts in place of the transcripts in place of the tapes. tapes.

Since the Special Prosecutor Since the Special Prosecutor is an employee of the Justice is an employee of the Justice Department, Nixon ordered Department, Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson to fire Cox.

Archibald Cox

The Saturday Night The Saturday Night MassacreMassacre

When Richardson refused, he When Richardson refused, he was fired. was fired.

Nixon ordered Deputy Nixon ordered Deputy Attorney General William D. Attorney General William D. Ruckelshaus to fire Cox .Ruckelshaus to fire Cox .

When he refused, he was When he refused, he was fired. fired.

Nixon then ordered Solicitor Nixon then ordered Solicitor General Robert Bork (who General Robert Bork (who was later nominated for the was later nominated for the Supreme Court by Reagan) to Supreme Court by Reagan) to fire Cox and he complied.fire Cox and he complied.

The The Washington PostWashington Post reported on the “Saturday reported on the “Saturday Night Massacre.”Night Massacre.”

Robert Bork

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns On 27 July 1974, the House On 27 July 1974, the House

Judiciary Committee approved Judiciary Committee approved Articles of Impeachment against Articles of Impeachment against Nixon. Nixon.

The House was to vote on the The House was to vote on the matter soon. matter soon.

Nixon conceded that Nixon conceded that impeachment in the House was impeachment in the House was likely, but he believed that the likely, but he believed that the Senate vote to remove him Senate vote to remove him would fail. would fail.

On 5 August 1974, when the On 5 August 1974, when the “smoking gun tape” became “smoking gun tape” became public, a delegation from the public, a delegation from the Republican National Committee Republican National Committee told Nixon that he would not told Nixon that he would not survive the vote in the Senate. survive the vote in the Senate.

On 9 August 1974, Richard On 9 August 1974, Richard Nixon became the first American Nixon became the first American president to resign. president to resign.

AftermathAftermath

More than 30 government officials went to prison for their role in More than 30 government officials went to prison for their role in Watergate. Watergate.

Richard Nixon was not one of them. Richard Nixon was not one of them. In September 1974, President Gerald Ford gave Nixon a full pardon. In September 1974, President Gerald Ford gave Nixon a full pardon. Woodward and Bernstein won the Pulitzer Prize. Woodward and Bernstein won the Pulitzer Prize. They collaborated on 2 books, They collaborated on 2 books, All the President’s MenAll the President’s Men and and The Final DaysThe Final Days. . In 1976 In 1976 All the President’s MenAll the President’s Men was adapted into an Oscar winning film. was adapted into an Oscar winning film. The identity of Deepthroat was kept secret until W. Mark Felt unmasked The identity of Deepthroat was kept secret until W. Mark Felt unmasked

himself in 2005.himself in 2005.

Ford announcing the pardon

Citations Slide 2: http://www.teachersparadise.com/ency/en/media/3/38/electoralcollege1968_large.pngSlide 3: http://www.fadedgiant.net/assets/images/nixon_richard_campaign_1968-550.jpgSlide 4: http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/stafford/images/danielellsberg.jpg Slide 5: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/images/wgate/wpics_tline/tlbig/hunt200.jpg, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/images/wgate/wpics_tline/tlbig/lid200.jpg , http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKmccord2.jpg , http://www.newsbeacon.com/columns_files/colson.jpgSlide 6: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/watergate-complex.jpgSlide 7: http://my.brandeis.edu/news/images/bernstein_woodward_ap_bild.jpgSlide 8: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4678527 Slide 9: http://www.teachersparadise.com/ency/en/media/9/94/electoralcollege1972_large.png Slide 10: http://www.npr.org/politics/watergate/sirica.jpg Slide 11: http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1973/1101730709_400.jpg Slide 12: http://www.gwu.edu/~elliott/news/briefing/pics/butterfield.jpg Slide 13: http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1973/1101731210_400.jpg Slide 14: http://www.law.harvard.edu/alumni/bulletin/2004/summer/images/gallery.jpg Slide 15: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/bork.jpg Slide 16: http://www.landmarkcases.org/nixon/images/nixon_resignation.jpg Slide 17: http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0607/Jan08_07/img/070108_ford_pardon.jpgSlide 18: http://www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/flash/assets/asset_upload_file761_12313.jpg