Nixon and WatergateNixon and Watergate

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968

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

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

The Vietnam war eroded public trust in The Vietnam war eroded public trust in governmentgovernment

The Election of 1968The Election of 1968 Nixon campaigned as a Nixon campaigned as a

champion of the champion of the "silent majority"silent majority," ,"

He vowed to restore He vowed to restore respect for the rule of respect for the rule of law, reconstitute the law, reconstitute the stature of America.stature of America.

He promised to He promised to dispose of many social dispose of many social programs, and provide programs, and provide strong leadership to strong leadership to end the turmoil of the end the turmoil of the 1960's. 1960's.

The White House PlumbersThe White House Plumbers After the Pentagon Papers, After the Pentagon Papers,

White House created a unit White House created a unit to ensure internal security. to ensure internal security. Called the Plumbers Called the Plumbers

because they stopped because they stopped leaks.leaks.

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

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

Howard Hunt G. Gordon Liddy

James McCord Chuck Colson

The Watergate Hotel Break-inThe Watergate Hotel Break-in During the Election of 1972, Democratic During the Election of 1972, Democratic

candidate George McGovern candidate George McGovern complained of ‘funny business’ by the complained of ‘funny business’ by the Nixon campaign.Nixon campaign.

WATERGATE BEGINSWATERGATE BEGINS On 17 June 1972, 5 men were On 17 June 1972, 5 men were

arrested while attempting to bug the arrested while attempting to bug the headquarters of the Democratic headquarters of the Democratic Party inside the Watergate building Party inside the Watergate building in Washington D.C.in Washington D.C.

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

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

Woodward & Bernstein: Woodward & Bernstein: Washington PostWashington Post

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

Despite political pressure Despite political pressure Washington PostWashington Post continued pushing the story until Nixon’s continued pushing the story until Nixon’s resignation.resignation.

Watergate Enters the Nixon Watergate Enters the Nixon CampaignCampaign

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

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

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

The Election of 1972The Election of 1972

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

Nixon was too paranoid to allow an investigation Nixon was too paranoid to allow an investigation of what would have been – in all likelihood – a of what would have been – in all likelihood – a small scandal. He pursued a cover-up instead.small scandal. He pursued a cover-up instead.

Senate Investigation and the Oval Senate Investigation and the Oval Office TapesOffice Tapes

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

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

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

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

The Smoking Gun TapesThe Smoking Gun Tapes

Nixon was ordered to release the tapes, and he Nixon was ordered to release the tapes, and he refused refused Supreme Court ordered release of tapes Supreme Court ordered release of tapes

One tape has an 18 ½ minute gap. One tape has an 18 ½ minute gap. Nixon’s secretary demonstrated how she could Nixon’s secretary demonstrated how she could

have inadvertently erased the tape. Assumption: have inadvertently erased the tape. Assumption: attempt to cover for Nixon.attempt to cover for Nixon.

““The smoking gun tapes,” The smoking gun tapes,” Implicate Nixon Implicate Nixon from the earliest days of the cover-up. from the earliest days of the cover-up.

The tapes proved that Nixon: The tapes proved that Nixon: 1.1. authorized the payment of hush money to authorized the payment of hush money to

witnesseswitnesses2.2. attempted to use the CIA to interfere with the attempted to use the CIA to interfere with the

FBI investigation. FBI investigation.

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

House approved House approved Articles of Articles of Impeachment against Impeachment against Nixon. Nixon.

Republicans in the Republicans in the House and Senate House and Senate informed Nixon that he informed Nixon that he would not survive the would not survive the vote.vote.

On 9 August 1974, On 9 August 1974, Richard Nixon became Richard Nixon became the first American 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 The Final

DaysDays. . In 1976 In 1976 All the President’s MenAll the President’s Men was adapted into an Oscar winning was adapted into an Oscar winning

film.film.

Ford announcing the pardon

Nixon displays the V for Victory as he departs the White House for the last time after resigning