Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory The

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory The Watergate Scandal

A Paranoid Leader Goes Criminal l Nixon, still popular, feared losing to democrat Mc. Govern in ’ 72 l Break in at DNC headquarters at Watergate Hotel by CREEP to spy on election plans

President Richard Nixon John Ehrlichman and H. R. Haldeman Committee to Re-Elect the President (CRP) G. Gordon Liddy E. Howard Hunt Virgilio Gonzalez Bernard Barker James Mc. Cord Eugenio Martinez Frank Sturgis

Nixon Wins in a Landslide!!!

The Conspiracy Begins to Break Down l Burglars caught by night watchman l Put on trial in 73 l Were supposed to stay quiet l James Mc. Cord “rats” on the government demonstrating a bugging

The Senate Investigates l TV Archibald Cox, Special Prosecutor on Watergate hearings show growing list of those accusing the administration l Guilt moving up hierarchy l Advisors Begin to resign

Nixon’s Inner-Sanctum Selling Out l White House Counsel John Dean tells Hearings that Nixon authorized a cover-up (maybe even the burglary)

Nixon Denies Involvement Government Probe Stalling…

“Deep Throat” Leaks to Reporters l FBI’s #2 man, Mark Felt, gives info in secret to Washington Post Reporters Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward

Post claims links between CREEP & the Watergate Burglars

America Sours on Nixon Only 20% Believe He’s Innocent

A Second Scandal Rocks DC l VP Spiro Agnew resigns over taxevasion l Nixon nominates Gerald Ford to be new VP

New Info Comes To Light l Nixon had secret tape recorders in White House l Many come to believe these tapes will prove Nixon’s guilt

Nixon Stonewalls the Prosecution l Refuses to hand over tapes, claims “executive privilege” of confidentiality

The Saturday Night Massacre l Oct. 73, Nixon offers summaries l Cox Refuses l Pres. fires two Attorneys General till he gets one to fire Cox (R. Bork) l New Prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, demands tapes

The Inner Circle Goes Down Nixon on the Ropes l Mar, 74, Admin officials indicted for conspiracy l Nixon called “un -indicted coconspirator” l July- US Supreme Court demands tapes

The Smoking Gun l 18 ½ minutes of the tapes erased!!! l Nixon claims secretary accidentally did it l Even So, tapes prove Nixon conspiracy to cover up Watergate

The “Edited” Transcript l Nixon finally releases a transcript of the tapes, but an 18 minute section had been erased

Election of 1972

House Prepares Articles of Impeachment l. Obstruction of Justice, Abuse of Power, Contempt of Congress l Debate lingers on if he ordered break in, but he did cover up investigation

Other Misdeeds Revealed… l CREEP made “Enemies List” to use Fed agencies to harass political enemies l Illegally used wire taps to spy on gov. employees & reporters

Nixon Resigns August 9, 1974 i. Cue Biography of Richard M. Nixon