Richard Nixon - Watergate Scandal Flashcards
The Plumbers and Daniel Ellsberg
The Plumbers set up in Summer 1971 after Daniel Ellsberg leaked their Pentagon Papers, documenting US president relations with Vietnam over the years.
Nixon sent Liddy, hunt & colson to discredit Ellsberg.
Broke into Ellsbergs psychiatrist office in Los Angeles, where they brought CIA cameras and Burglary gear.
- Took photo of Liddy standing in front of the office, and gave the camera to the CIA with film left in it.
Watergate Break-Ins
CREEP organised an illegal break-in at the DNC HQ in Watergate in June 1972. Reasons for this were…
- Colson & Hunt wanted to expose democratic links to radical groups.
- Dean ordered them to expose DNCs list of expensive prostitutes that included his fiancé.
-Early 1972, Democratic front runner, Edmund Muskie was ahead in the polls - any info on the democratic campaign was useful.
Discovered by a security guard, and 5 burglars were arrested, as well as Liddy & Hunt with walkie talkies.
FBI traced laundered money from the plumbers to CREEP. Nixon tried to get the CIA to help, who were unwilling to cooperate, so tried to pay the burglars $400000 to stay quiet. But, convicted in 1973.
The Watergate Committee
February 1973, the Watergate Committee was set up by democratic senator, Sam Ervin. Held a series of hearings from May-August where conspirators testified eg. Colson, Mccord, Mcgruder & John Mitchell
July, Nixons taping system exposed his conversations.
Appointed Cox as his prosecutor, to retrieve the tapes
But when ‘Saturday Night Massacre’ occurred, where Cox was sacked, Nixons ratings fell to 17% & received half a million negative telegrams.
House Judiciary Committee gave $1m to 106 staff for an impeachment investigation, and Nixon surrendered seven White House tapes.
Surrender of Whitehouse Tapes
The seven surrendered tapes contained an 18 min gap in a convo between Nixon & Haldeman.
- Secretary Woods said she accidentally deleted the tapes. ‘I am not a crook’ mocked by the media.
April 1974, Nixon surrendered edited tapes with nothing incriminating.
- Supreme Court ruled that these tapes are released and the president doesn’t use executive powers.
These tapes proved Nixon were part of the conspiracy
Charges against Nixon
Charges against Nixon by the Whitehouse Judiciary Committee included…
-Obstruction of justice ( involvement in a cover-up).
-Abuse of power (Invading CR of Ellsberg, and criticising a Long Island newspaper using IRS after releasing an article on the finances of bsf, Robozo).
- Abuse of congress (Ignoring requested tapes on 27 occasions, and impounding money granted by congress during the 1972 Clean Water Act)
Nixons resignation
August 1974, Nixon announced his resignation due to
Financial and legal concerns…
If Nixon resigned he would get $60000 presidential pension & $100000 staff expenses. But if impeached, ‘I would be wiped out financially’ by legal fees and $500000 in unpaid taxes.
House Judiciary Committee promised Nixon no further charges if he just resigned.
Loss of republican support…
Nixon wasn’t sure if republican senators would continue to support him and deny the 2/3 majority required for his impeachment.
When the tape of the convo between Nixon and Haldeman was released, Goldwater said ‘Nixon lied to me for the last time , and to helluva lot of others’.
Polls show 66% Americans favoured impeachment.
Why did Ford pardon Nixon?
Ford pardoned Nixon in September 8th 1978…
*Ford said this was the best way to end the ‘American Tragedy’ - national trauma would be prolonged if Nixon went on trial.
*Antagonism was so great it would be difficult for Nixon to find an unbiased jury in Supreme Court.
*Ford advisor said Nixon was the ‘most depressed person in the world’ - threat to his health.
*It was Christian to show mercy.
