Watergate

 

Watergate meant two things in Nixon’s second term:

     Generally: a series of political scandals

     such as:

           CREEP accepting secret and illegal

                campaign funds

           CREEP financed “dirty tricks” to

                discredit democrats

           IRS was used to harass “enemies” of

                the administration

     Specifically: June 1972 break-in at

           Democratic national headquarters and

           the efforts of high officials to cover-up

           connections

 

Investigators:

     Washington Post and New York Times

           (anti-Nixon) pursued investigations

     Senate Committee headed by Sam Ervin

           of North Carolina held hearings

     Special Prosecutor was named by

           attorney general investigated and

           brought criminal charges

Court Actions:

     Some indicted pled guilty and offered

           evidence

     30 people were charged with various

           crimes and served jail terms

 

The Tapes:

     Nixon’s order to tape all White House

           conversations was revealed in

           testimony to investigators

     Nixon turned some tapes (some edited) to

           committee and special prosecutor

     Prosecutor Leon Jaworski requested

           further tapes

     Nixon refused on the ground of “executive

           priviledge” (the implied right to keep

           presidential records confidential)

     In U.S. v. Nixon, the Supreme Court ruled

           that executive priviledge must yield

           in this case to the investigation

 

Impeachment:

     House Judicairy Committee began

           holding hearings to decide on

           possible impeachment charges                Two articles were eventually approved by

           the bipartisan committee

     Tapes revealed that Nixon did have

           knowledge of the cover-up after he

           had denied any knowledge

 

Resignation:

     August 8, 1974 Nixon resigned the

           presidency, the 1st President to do so

     Nixon claimed that he always had acted in

           the best interests of the nation

 

Effects of Watergate:

     Increased people’s cynicism of politics

           and politicians

     Endangered the ability of the Republican

           party to function effectively

     Freedom of press worked

     Two-party system worked (Dems in

           Congress check Rep President)

     Checks and balances worked

     Proved the durability of Constitution and

           that NO ONE is above the law

     Powers of presidency were weakened,

           Congress was strengthened

     Changes in campaign laws to reduce

           possibilty of corruption

     Budget Reform Act gave Congress more

           authority on budget