President Nixon and Watergate

E. America Enters World War II (1945-Present) 1. America at War h. Describe and evaluate the political and social impact of the Vietnam War 2. Changes at Home c. Identify the events and influential individuals of the civil rights, human rights, and counterculture movements and assess their impact

Vietnam and Public Opinion -In the late 60s and early 70s, many in America held to a negative view of the government, especially toward the actions in Vietnam. -President Lyndon Johnson even refused to run again in 1968, partially due to the unpopularity of the Vietnam War and his desire to focus on the war effort instead of campaigning. -Richard Nixon inherited the conflict and also had to deal with the negative view of government present in the American culture of the era..

As the Republican candidate for the Election of 1968, Nixon met with President Johnson to discuss Vietnam in the summer of 1968.

The Watergate Scandal -The main issue at hand was a break in that occurred at the Democratic National Committee headquarters (DNC). The headquarters was in a building complex called Watergate in Washington D.C. -Nixon suffered from massive paranoia. He felt that there was a liberal conspiracy against him and his presidential policies. -Nixon was allowing men in his administration to illegally wiretap various people to try and get information on this so called conspiracy.

The Watergate Complex

Nixon s Illegal Activity -Nixon, a Republican, entrusted himself to a few close advisors. H.R. Haldeman (Chief of Staff), John Ehrlichman (Domestic Advisor), John Deal (Presidential Counsel), and John Mitchell (Attorney General) were some of his closest consultants. -Nixon was frustrated with the various negotiations that were needed to deal with the Congress that was dominated by Democrats. -Nixon wanted to get the upper hand on their plans. He allowed mean to break the law by illegally attempting to spy on those Nixon believed were in the conspiracy against him.

Nixon s Advisors H.R. Haldeman John Mitchell John Ehrlichman John Dean

The Watergate Break In -Since the 1960s, Nixon possessed massive paranoia toward his political rivals, due to losing to JFK. Nixon was frantic to make sure he stayed ahead politically. -In June of 1972, five men were caught breaking in to the Democratic National Committee headquarters. These men were trying to copy files and plant bugs that could record future conversations in the office. -James McCord, one of the intruders, was a former CIA agent and helped with the Committee to Reelect the President (CRP). H.R. Haldeman and others began to destroy documents that linked Nixon to the break in.

The Cover Up Begins -The Committee to Reelect the President (CRP) illegally used campaign money to pay the intruders to keep them quiet about asserting Nixon knew of their tactics. -A Senate investigation commenced. Nixon tried to fire Haldeman and claimed the Watergate intruders acted outside of his orders. Nixon then went on television and denied that he knew about the break in. - The Washington Post followed the story. Two reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, covered the events. Despite the story, Nixon won the 1972 Election and defeated Democrat, George S. McGovern.

Woodward and Bernstein, the Washington Post reporters that covered the Watergate Scandal.

Nixon and the Break in at Watergate -John Dean admitted the president knew of the break in at Watergate. He also confessed that Nixon had conversations with him about how to cover up the scandal. -Afterward, it was revealed that the paranoid President had taped various meetings on various matters, including his illegal political strategies. -In what was called the Saturday Night Massacre, Nixon was ordered to give up the tapes by the Supreme Court, but he refused. Congress began to consider impeaching Nixon.

Not only had Nixon become entangled with the Watergate Scandal, he also possessed hours upon hours of recorded meetings, on tape, that had the potential to link him to other forms of illegal activity.

Though many went to jail for Watergate and other related scandals, Nixon was pardoned by President Gerald Ford, who was his Vice President while Nixon was in office.

The Fall of Richard Nixon -In 1974, Nixon said he would release the tapes, if they could be edited; the Supreme Court ruled they had to be released without editing. -On August 8 th, 1974, before Congress could impeach him, Nixon resigned as President. Gerald Ford, Nixon s Vice President, became President of the USA. -Many went to jail over Watergate. Yet, Ford pardoned Nixon of all crimes. Ford said a trial of the President would just damage the nation more and that he wanted to end the Watergate scandal once and for all so the nation could move on.

The End