Revised Ohio FFA Code of Regulations

1. 32.2 Watergate: Nixon’s Downfall Essential Questions: What events together, are known as the Watergate scandal? Why was the Watergate scandal one of the most serious constitutional crises of American History?

2. Key Terms • Watergate • H.R. Haldeman • John Ehrlichman • John Mitchell • Committee to Reelect the President • Judge John Sirica • Saturday Night Massacre

3. Watergate: Key Dates • June 17, 1972- Watergate Burglaries • September 1972- Watergate Burglars indicted • January 1973- Burglary Trial begins • March 20, 1973- James McCord’s Letter to Judge John Sirica • April 30, 1973- Resignation of Dean, Haldeman, and Erhlichman • May 1973- Senate Investigation Begins • October 1973- Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox sues to obtain the Nixon tapes • October 20, 1973- Saturday Night Massacre • March 1974- Mitchell, Ehrlichman, and Haldeman indicted • July 24, 1974- Supreme Court orders Nixon to give up un-edited tapes • July 27, 1974- House Judicial Committee votes to impeach Nixon • August 5, 1974- Nixon releases unedited tapes • August 8, 1974- Nixon resigns

4. Nixon’s White House • Imperial Presidency • Executive Branch of gov. had become to powerful by Nixon’s election • Constitutional checks on executive power went ignored under Nixon • The “President’s Men” • Trusted group of advisors around Nixon • H.R. Haldeman, John Dean, John Ehrlichman, John Mitchell • 1972 Reelection Campaign • Wanted to win landslide victory- By any means necessary • Democrats nominate George McGovern

5. H.R. Haldeman

6. John Ehlrichman

7. John Mitchell

8. John Dean

9. The CRP & The Plumbers • The “Plumbers” • Group that was meant to stop leaks from the Nixon Administration to the media • Also aided Nixon through other- sometimes illegal- ways • CRP- Committee to Re-elect the President • Headed by John Mitchell • Organization and funding for Nixon’s re-election campaign

10. CRP

11. Burglary at Watergate • June 17, 1972- 2:30 a.m. DC police arrest five men that had broke into the DNC offices at the Watergate Complex • Men arrested were part of the “plumbers” • Trying to steal information and wiretap the phone lines at the DNC • James McCord, former CIA agent and official in the CRP is one of men arrested • Instead of admitting to it, Nixon decides to cover it up • Why? • Did not gain much media attention during the 1972 Campaign • Defeats George McGovern in a landslide

12. Watergate Complex

14. George McGovern

15. Watergate Investigation • Burglars Indicted in September 1972- bribed with nearly $500,000 From CRP for their silence • Nixon orders CIA to stop FBI investigation • National Security Issue • Trial begins in Jan. 1973 • All but McCord plea Guilty • McCord found guilty • McCord hints to Judge John Siricathat high profile members of the Nixon administration knew about break-in

16. Judge John Sirica

17. “There can be no whitewash at the White House” • April 30, 1973- Nixon fires Dean, Haldeman, and Ehrlichman • Goes on National TV announces that Attorney General Elliot Richardson will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate • May 1973- Senate begins investigation into Watergate- led by N.C. Senator Sam Ervin • Members of the Nixon Administration began to testify- and revealed much about the cover-up

18. Sen. Sam Ervin (D- N.C.)

19. “What did the President know and when did he know it?” – Sen. Howard Baker • John Dean- revealed the president had been deeply involved in the cover-up • John Mitchell quickly denied that claim • Alexander Butterfield- exposed that Nixon had taped almost all of his presidential conversations • The “Nixon Tapes” became subject of a year long battle between the Senate and White House

20. The Saturday Night Massacre • Archibald Cox, special prosecutor took Nixon to court in October of 1973 over the tapes • Nixon ordered Attorney General Richardson and his deputy to fire Cox – They refused and were fired • Robert Bork did fire Cox, but Cox’s replacement, Leon Jaworski continued investigation • Other Problems: • VP Spiro Agnew is forced to resign for accepting bribes • Gerald Ford become VP • Revealed Nixon hadn’t paid his taxes- led to famous “I am not a crook” statement

21. Archibald Cox

22. Nixon’s Fall • March 1974- Grand Jury Indicts Haldeman, Mitchell, Ehrlichman, and four other aids on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury. • April 30, 1974- Nixon releases tapes- although edited – does not help Nixon’s public image • Refused to release unedited tapes • July 24, 1974- Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tapes • July 27, 1974- House votes on Impeachment • Charged with Obstruction of Justice, Abuse of Power, and Contempt of Congress

23. Resignation • August 5, 1974- Nixon releases the unedited tapes- Revealed Nixon knew, and actively covered up the FBI investigation • August 8, 1974- Nixon Resigns- Ford become President • Reflection Question: • What primary effect do you believe the Watergate scandal had on the American Public?