Unit 9

The Watergate Scandal Chapter 28 Section 2

The Roots of WatergateBob Woodward

Reporter for the Washington Post Asked to cover a small but weird incidentFive men had broken into the Democratic

National Committee in the Watergate Office Complex

Judge asked the men what their occupation was and one replied that he was retired from the government and worked for the CIA

Why would a former CIA man be involved in a burglary?

The Roots of WatergateMounting a Reelection Fight

Nixon administration tried to cover up the involvement in the break in

Nixon had fought hard to become president Loss to JFK, Nixon became president when our society

was sufferingVietnam war was still going on during Nixon’s

reelection time and the Republicans decided to spy on as many opposition rallies and spread rumors and false reports about the democrats

Nixon’s administration also ordered five men to break into the Democratic Party’s Headquarters They were to steal any campaign information,

wiretap the phone lines,

The Roots of WatergateThe Cover-Up Begins

The media discovered that James McCord was not only CIA but he was also a member on the Committee for the Re-Election of the President

White House officials began destroying evidence

Nixon’s Administration asked the CIA to stop the FBI’s investigation because it threatened national security

Many people believed Nixon had nothing to do with the break-in

The Cover-Up UnravelsA Summer of Shocking Testimony

John Dean (counsel to the President) testified that former Attorney General Mitchell had ordered the Watergate Break-in and Nixon had played an active role in the cover up

White House Aid Alexander Butterfield testified that Nixon had ordered a taping system installed in the White house For his memoirs he would later write Is Nixon going to hand over the tapes with no

problems?

The Cover-Up UnravelsThe Case of the Tapes

Nixon refused to hand over the tapes saying it was executive privilege Principle that White House conversations should

remain confidential to protect national securitySpecial Prosecutor Archibald Cox

(government lawyer appointed by the president) Ordered Nixon to hand over the tapes Nixon ordered Attorney General Richardson to fire

Cox but he refused and the Attorney General resigned Nixon ordered Richardson’s deputy to fire Cox and

the deputy resigned Cox was finally fired but this incident badly damaged

Nixon’s reputation with the public

The Cover-Up Unravels Nixon Resigns

President Nixon appointed a new Special Prosecutor from Texas who was less interested in obtaining the tapes

July – The Supreme Court ruled that Nixon had to hand over the tapes

The House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach Nixon or charge him with misconduct Obstructing Justice Misusing federal agencies to violate the rights of

citizens Defying the authority of Congress by refusing to

deliver tapes and other materials

The Cover-Up UnravelsNixon Resigns

Before the House votes on whether or not to impeach Nixon investigators found undeniable evidence against Nixon The tapes proved that Nixon had ordered the

CIA to stop the FBI’s investigationNixon knew impeachment was coming so

he resigned and Ford stepped in as president

The Cover-Up UnravelsThe Impact of Watergate

President Ford urged people to put Watergate behind them

President Ford announced he would fully pardon Nixon for any crimes that he committed while being president

Federal Campaign Act Amendments – Controlled the President’s Power Limited campaign contributions and established an

independent agency to administer stricter election laws

Congress also established a means for appointing an independent counsel to investigate and prosecute wrongdoings by government officials

The Cover-Up UnravelsThe Impact of Watergate

Many Americans had a deep distrust of public officials

Hard times are ahead for the United States