Nixon & Agnew 1972. Behind the scenes Nixon administration pursued political enemies with Legal...

Nixon & Agnew 1972

Behind the scenes

Nixon administration pursued political enemies with

Legal means Illegal means

“dirty tricks” campaign against Vietnam war opponents

Break-in at Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist office (Pentagon papers case)

The PlumbersNickname for secret White

House/CREEP group paid from “slush fund”

May 1972: bugged Democratic Campaign headquarters.

1972-06-12 Arrests at the Watergate

Arrested for breakin at Watergate Hotel headquarters of Democratic Party

James McCord Frank Sturgis Eugenio R. Martinez Virgilio R. Gonzales Bernard L. Barker

6 Convictions James McCord G. Gordon Liddy

RNC security Link b/t Nixon & Burglars

4 other burglars also convicted

Nixon Aids: Doing Time E Howard Hunt Charles Colson

The “evil genius”

More Convictions! John Ehrlichman:

domestic advisor

HR Haldeman:

Chief of staff

Whoa! John Mitchell: Nixon

law partner, Atty General, campaign director

John Dean:

WH legal counsel

1973-10-10 Agnew Resigned Corruption in State of

Maryland Separate Scandal

From Watergate Replaced by Mich.

Senator Gerald Ford

(under provisions of the new 25th amendment)

Ongoing Court & Congressional Inquiry 1973-4

Pivotal Event: Supreme Court orders Nixon to hand

over audio tapes of Oval Office meetings

Tapes reveal widespread conspiracy & coverup in WH

Nixon Resigns 1974-08-09

To my disgust, Pres. Ford pardoned him

WatergateExposed dangers of Presidential

ambition and abuse of powerNixon eventually forced outDemocrats control Congress 1976Legal reforms

Campaign finance reform Special Prosecutor Law CIA & Domestic Spying Reform