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The Watergate Scandal. Background. Nixon’s tendency towards paranoia caused him to be very suspicious and secretive. Enemies List - list of prominent people who were seen as unsympathetic to the administration.
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Background Nixon’s tendency towards paranoia caused him to be very suspicious and secretive. • Enemies List - list of prominent people who were seen as unsympathetic to the administration. • Wiretaps - installed listening devices on phones of his own staff members and news reporters. • The Plumbers - authorized break ins to find damaging information on political enemies and stop “leaks” (ie: Pentagon Papers)
The Plan Determined to be victorious in Nixon’s bid for reelection, the “Committee to Reelect the President” formed a intelligence gathering group. Operation Gemstone was a series of plans to ensure Nixon’s reelection and sabotage his political opponents.
The Break-in After going through several possible scenarios, John Mitchell, Attorney General and head of the Committee to Reelect Nixon finally approved the plan that would become infamous. They staged a break-in at the Democratic Headquarters located in the Watergate Complex to attempt to install wiretaps to find damaging information about delegates at their convention Key Players:G. Gordon Liddy - former FBI agent E. Howard Hunt - spy novelist and former CIA agent
The Cover-up The Watergate burglars were arrested and linked to Nixon’s reelection campaign. Nixon tried to persuade the FBI to stop its investigation on the grounds that the matter involved “national security.” The break-in and cover-up became known as the Watergate Scandal.
The Cover-up Continues After the break-in, the President’s closest aids (including advisors John Halderman and John Ehrlichman) worked feverishly to keep the truth about the break-ins hidden. Two young and eager Washington Post reporters - Woodward and Bernstein keep the story alive with the help of Deep Throat.
The Senate Investigates In 1973, a Senate Committee begins to investigate Watergate. Nixon denies involvement. He tries to protect himself by forcing John Halderman and John Ehrlichman, his closest aids, to resign.
Some Speak Out John Dean, the president’s personal legal counselor, tries to save himself by testifying that Nixon knew about the Watergate Cover-up. Presidential assistant, Alexander Butterfield, testifies about the existence of a secret taping system the Nixon had installed in the Oval Office to record meetings and phone calls. When special prosecutor Archibald Cox insists that the tapes be turned over, Nixon fires him and other investigators in the Saturday Night Massacre.
Impeach ??? Congress begins hearings to determine if they should impeach the President - charge him with misconduct while in office. The House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach on charges of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and refusal to obey a congressional order to turn over the tapes. The full House of Representatives never had the chance to vote on the impeachment; Nixon turned over the tapes and then resigned.
