Nixon 1969-74 and the Watergate Scandal 1972-74

Question 1

1) CREEP

Answer 1

In 1972 Nixon set up CREEP - Committee to re-elect the President - giving permission to use any tactics.

Question 2

2) The Break-in

Answer 2

On 17 June 1972 five members of CREEP were arrested for breaking into the Watergate offices of the Democratic Party.

Question 3

3) The Cover-up

Answer 3

Nixon ordered a cover-up and denied any knowledge of the incident. He went onto win a landslide re-election victory.

Question 4

4) The Trial of the Burglars

Answer 4

in January 1973, the Watergate burglars went on trial and were all convicted. Nixon again denied any cover-up. But on 30 April 1973 Nixon’s top advisers, Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, resigned.

Question 5

5) The Senate Committee

Answer 5

On 25 June 1973, Nixon’s sacked lawyer, John Dean, testified to the Senate Watergate Committee that there had been a cover-up directed by Nixon.

Question 6

6) The Resignation

Answer 6

In July 1974 Congress decided to impeach Nixon, however in August Nixon resigned in order to avoid impeachment.
In September 1974 President Ford pardoned Nixon for his part in the Scandal.

Question 7

Effects of the Watergate Scandal

Answer 7

• The scandal greatly undermined peoples’ confidence in politics and politicians.
• It utterly destroyed Nixon’s reputation and overshadowed all of his successes.
• It led to the passing of the Congressional Budget Act 1974 which meant the president could not use government money for own purposes.
• It damaged Americas reputation abroad. The USSR said it was an example of a corrupt capitalist system.