U.S. History- Watergate Scandal vocab

Election of 1960

John F. Kennedy, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, was elected president in 1960, defeating Vice President Richard Nixon. Though he clearly won the electoral vote, Kennedy's received only 118,000 more votes than Nixon in this close election

"You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore."

Nixon accused the media of favoring his opponent Brown, stating that it was his "last press conference" and "You won't have Nixon to kick around any more." Six years later, Nixon was elected President of the United States

The Selling of the President

a book written by Joe McGinniss on the "marketing" of Richard Nixon in the 1968 campaign. McGinniss was influential in changing how political campaigns were perceived by the public. Humphrey's campaign refused to give him access to the campaign and marketing tactics, while Nixons campaign (run by Roger Ailes) was open to the book. This gave Nixon's campaign a more transparent appearance

Chappaquiddik

Occurred on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts some time around midnight between July 18 and 19, 1969, when Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy negligently drove his car off a narrow bridge, causing it to overturn in a tidal pond

Senator Edward Kennedy

Targeted as an enemy of President Nixon (no relation)

Senator Edmund Muskie

Senator from Maine, although he was favored to win the Democratic candidacy, he lost to McGovern.

Governor George Wallace

Governor of Alabama; pledged to oppose integration and to prevent enrollment of blacks at state university; won popularity for his views. remembered for his staunch segregationist and populist views. During his tenure, he promoted "industrial development, low taxes, and trade schools.

Arthur Bremmer

American convicted criminal who attempted to assassinate U.S. Democratic presidential candidate George Wallace on May 15, 1972, in Laurel, Maryland, which left Wallace permanently paralyzed from the waist down.

Senator George McGovern

Democratic nominee for the 1972 election, from South Dakota. Somewhat of a radical, many voters thought he was a hippie and too supportive of women and militant Blacks. Ran an unsuccessful campaign, hampered by lack of funds.

The Plumbers

A secret group created by Nixon that worked to stop government leaks to the press.

"Dirty Tricks"

actions taken by a political campaign or candidate to damage their opponents that may involve unethical, distasteful, or illegal behaviors

How did Nixon use Dirty Tricks?

Nixon went so far as to order one or two "spies" to be included in the Secret Service detail assigned to Edward Kennedy, believing that if they got lucky and could catch him with a woman companion, it would "ruin him for '76."

Howard Hunt

an American author and spy. He worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and later the White House under President Richard Nixon. Hunt, with G. Gordon Liddy and others, was one of the White House's "plumbers" — a secret team of operatives charged with fixing "leaks." Information disclosures had proved an embarrassment to the Nixon administration when defense analyst Daniel Ellsberg sent a series of documents, which came to be known as the Pentagon Papers, to The New York Times.

Woodward and Bernstein

two reporters for the Washington Post who uncover the Watergate scandal by constant digging and tips from "Deep Throat" bring down Nixon in 1974

War Powers Act of 1973

Passed by Congress in 1973; the president is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a sixty-day period in peacetime (which can be extended for an extra thirty days to permit withdrawal) unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period.

H. R. Haldeman

Nixons chief staff who took the fall for the president over the conspiracy. Nixon instructed Haldeman to have the CIA pressure the FBI into dropping its Watergate investigation

John Erhlichman

American political aide who served as the White House Counsel and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon. Created the Plumbers to focus on the stopping of leaking confidential information after the release of the Pentagon Papers

Pentagon Papers

a top-secret history of the Vietnam War, on June 13, 1971

John Dean

White House aide who participated in the Watergate cover-up; in a plea bargain he testified that President Nixon knew and participated in the cover-up. Many did not believe his testimony until the White house tapes surfaced

Judge John Sirica

The judge who tried the Watergate burglars who eventually uncovered a connection to the Nixon White House. An unmerciful federal judge that led the criminal trial of the Watergate break-in.

Senator Sam Ervin

held hearings for watergate, he is remembered for his work in the investigation committees that brought down Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1954 and President Richard Nixon in 1974.

Impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives that result in the removal from office

25th Amendment

(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job.

(2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one, and congress must approve

Gerald R. Ford (Republican)

American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977

Henry Kissinger

Awarded 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for helping to end Vietnam War and withdrawing American forces. Heavily involved in South American politics as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. Condoned covert tactics to prevent communism and facism from spreading throughout South America.