WatergateThe biggest political scandal to hit

the United States1972-1974

Background

• Richard Nixon elected President in 1968

• Reelection approaching in 1972

• Paranoia of Nixon losing political race because of the Vietnam War

• Nixon and his aides began a plan of slander towards the democratic party

What is Watergate

• Watergate is used to describe the scandal that began in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C.

• This hotel is where the Democratic National Committee met

• This hotel was broken into and burglarized on June 17, 1972

Watergate

• Nixon’s team planted surveillance devices in the Watergate Hotel

• They were caught breaking in and began to cover up any involvement

Burglary

• Five men were arrested at the Watergate complex

• Two other men faced charges-also White House aides.

• The “Watergate Seven”

Executive Privilege

• Tapes began being used in 1971 in the Oval Office so that conversations would be recorded.

• Nixon was accused of involvement and asked to turn over the tapes.

• Refused because of “Executive Privilege”

Executive Privilege

• Supreme Court instructed Nixon to surrender the tapes

• Months later Nixon finally releases some of the tapes

• One tape is found to have an 18 minute gap

Tapes

• Nixon’s secretary, Rose Mary Woods denies deliberately erasing the tapes

• There are calls for Nixon to resign and Congress seriously considers impeachment

Nixon

• Nixon releases more edited transcripts of tapes

• Public is shocked with information on the tapes

• Nixon’s foul language a shock

Nixon and more tapes

• Nixon releases more tapes that prove he ordered the cover-up of the Watergate burglary, six days after the break-in

• He admits he knew of the scandal and that it was geared towards Campaign for Re-election of the President

Impeachment

• It is clear that Nixon will be impeached

• Nixon resigned, the first president to do so

• Gerald Ford becomes the 38th president

How did the public learn of the story?

• Reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, reporters for the Washington Post

• Became the most famous journalists of the 20th century

Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein

How they got their story

• First story about the break-ins was in June 1972

• Most newspapers dismissed the story• Woodward teamed with Bernstein • Together they raised the issue of the link

between the burglars and President Nixon's reelection committee with their first report for the Watergate scandal.

The Source

• The source was not identified for 30 years

• Source was called “Deep Throat”

Finally reveals himself

• Mark Felt (91) finally reveals himself after 30 years as “Deep Throat”

• He wanted to stay an unindentified source because he worked for the FBI

Unidentified Source

• “I hope you understand that I gave my word that this source would not be identified unless he changed his mind. He has not, and a reporter's ability to keep the bond of confidentiality often enables him to learn the hidden or secret aspects of government.”– Bob Woodward

How long it took

• “I believe Watergate shows that the system did work. Particularly the Judiciary and the Congress, and ultimately an independent prosecutor working in the Executive Branch,” Bob Woodward.

• It took 26 months for the final truth to be known.

• Bob Woodward Interview

Historic Event

• Two years and eight days after the first report broke out, President Nixon appeared on TV screen for his resignation speech.

• Woodward and Bernstein won most of major journalism award, including the Pulitzer Prize.

• They coauthored two best sellers, 'All the President Men' (1974)