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Section 2
1972 Election -Nixon easily defeats Sen. George McGovern
Nixon and His White House -Watergate scandal centered on Nixon’s attempt to cover up a burglary at the DNC headquarters at the Watergate complex -The president’s men -Nixon had a small group of advisers -HaldermanàChief of Staff -EhrlichmanàChief domestic adviser -Mitchellàformer Atty. General Why?àNixon wanted to get reelected (1972)
The Burglary -June 17, 1972 -5 men caught breaking into the DNC -Wiretaps, information -Leader of burglars was former CIA (James McCord) -Also a member of Committee to Reelect the President -Cover-up begins -Haldeman’s office shredded documents -President tells FBI to stop investigation of burglary -$450,000 given to burglars from CRP -Bob Woodward and Carl Bernsteinàreporters -Uncovered information -White House denies every story
The Cover-up is Uncovered -As the burglars were about to be sentenced, McCord tells judge he lied under oath -Hinted that others were involved -Nixon fires Dean (lawyer) Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Atty. General -Goes on TV and denies cover-up (April 1973) -Senate begins investigation (May 1973) -Dean testified Nixon deeply involvedàNixon denies -Investigation stalledàNo real proof -Alex Butterfield testifies Nixon taped everything -Year long battle for tape ensues -The Saturday Night Massacre -Nixon orders Atty. General to fire investigator -Atty. General resigns -Asst. Atty. General is ordered to do so -Refusesàfired -Solicitor General (Robert Bork) fires investigator -Days before “massacre”, Spiro Agnew (VP) resigns -Accepted bribes as governor of MD -Gerald Ford selected as new VP
Nixon Resigns -March 1974à7 presidential aides indicted for conspiracy -Nixon releases edited transcript of tapes -Investigators want unedited tapes -Nixon refuses -July 24, 1974àSupreme Court orders Nixon to give up tapes -July 27àHouse committee approves impeachment proceedings -Aug. 5àNixon releases tapes -Many large gaps (dead time) in tapes -Nixon’s secretary “accidentally” taped over them -Nixon knew about burglary and cover-up -Aug. 8àNixon announces resignation -Admits no guilt -Gerald Ford becomes president
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