1 / 9

Nixon and Watergate

Nixon and Watergate. Seeking Reelection. Election Context Political defeats Cambodia Race riots Protestors Vietnam War Enemies List- list of people (politicians, media, radicals, etc.) he considered a threat to his presidency Worried about losing the election

netis
Download Presentation

Nixon and Watergate

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Nixon and Watergate

  2. Seeking Reelection • Election Context • Political defeats • Cambodia • Race riots • Protestors • Vietnam War • Enemies List- list of people (politicians, media, radicals, etc.) he considered a threat to his presidency • Worried about losing the election • Spy on rallies and spread rumors about Democratic opponents

  3. Watergate Hotel • Nixon’s advisers order five men to break in to the Democratic National Convention headquarters (at Watergate hotel complex) • Steal sensitive campaign information • Plant wiretaps on phones • Security guard calls police • Burglars arrested

  4. Watergate Cover-Up • James McCord- ex-CIA officer and member of the Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP) • Had been paid from a CRP fund controlled by the White House • White House officials destroy documents and give false testimony • Nixon orders cover-up • Officials ask CIA to stop FBI investigation • FBI director, Mark Felt, leaks information to Washington Post

  5. Election of 1972 • Nixon dismisses break-in • Tells public the White House had no involvement • Nixon wins reelection with 61% of popular vote

  6. Watergate Trial • 1973, Watergate burglars go on trial • John Dean- presidential counsel, implicates Nixon’s involvement • John Mitchell ordered break-in • Nixon covered up the White House involvement • Nixon denied charges • Tapes of Nixon’s phone conversations discovered

  7. Watergate Tapes • Nixon refused to hand over the tapes • Executive privilege- White House conversations should remain confidential to protect national security • Nixon fires the lawyer (Archibald Cox) who tried to force him to give up the tapes • Damages his reputation with the public • Vice President Spiro Agnew forced to resign • Took bribes as governor and Vice President • Gerald Ford becomes new VP

  8. Nixon Resigns • Supreme Court rules Nixon has to give up tapes • House Judiciary Committee votes to impeach Nixon (officially charge him with misconduct) • Obstructing justice in Watergate cover-up • Misuse of federal agencies to violates rights of citizens • Defying Congress by refusing to cooperate • August 9, 1974- Nixon resigns in disgrace • Gerald Ford takes oath of office

  9. Impact • Federal Campaign Act- limits campaign contributions and stricter election laws • No one is above the law • Deep distrust of government

More Related