Nixon & Watergate Scandal Notes
Key Terms
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): A proposal to ensure equality between men and women in employment, property, divorce, etc.
Hippies: A youth movement against American consumerism, materialism, and violence.
Espionage: Spying to get government and military info.
Presidential Pardon: When the president sets aside punishment for a federal crime.
Impeachment: A legislative body charging a government official with a crime.
Wiretapping: Monitoring internet or phone conversations through a third party.
Richard Nixon
Nixon was the 37th U.S. president.
He quit after the Watergate Scandal in the 1970s.
In 1946, Nixon got a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He was on the Select Committee on Foreign Aid and became known for international relations.
On June 17, 1972, burglars were caught in the Democratic National Committee office in the Watergate Complex.
They were wiretapping phones for Nixon’s reelection.
Nixon's role was found out two years later, and he resigned.
Watergate
On June 17, 1972, five burglars were arrested at the Democratic National Committee office in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.
The burglars were wiretapping and stealing documents.
Nixon's involvement was discovered in August 1974.
Richard Nixon quit on August 9, 1974, and Vice President Gerald Ford took over.
Election Lies
In August 1972, Nixon said his staff weren't involved and was elected for a second term.
Stopping the FBI investigation was an abuse of power.
In January 1973, two of Nixon’s aides were found guilty, and five plead guilty.
White House counsel John Dean told the jury about Nixon’s crime.
Smoking Gun
On July 24, 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court said to release a tape of Nixon and his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman, from June 23, 1972.
This tape, the "Smoking Gun," made Nixon resign.
Watergate Scandal Timeline
June 17, 1971: 5 people arrested for the Watergate break-in
June 19, 1972: The Washington Post says the burglars are linked to CREEP. John Mitchell denies it
August 1, 1972: The Washington Post says a cheque to CREEP was paid to a Watergate burglar
August 30, 1972: Nixon says John Dean checked the break-in and no White House staff were involved
September 15, 1972: The five burglars, plus Hunt and Liddy, are charged with conspiracy, burglary, and wiretapping
November 11, 1972: Nixon wins the election
January 8-30, 1973: Trial for the Watergate break-in
February 7, 1973: Senate makes a committee on Presidential Campaign Activities
March 19, 1973: James McCord says White House staff told the burglars to lie during the trial
April 23, 1973: Nixon says he didn't know about the break-in
April 30, 1973: Nixon fires Dean and Haldeman, Ehrlichman quits
May 17, 1973: Senate Committee hearings start
June 25, 1973: John Dean testifies. He says Nixon was involved in the cover-up soon after the break-in
July 7, 1973: Nixon says he won't testify or give access to files
July 16, 1973: White House taping system is revealed
July 23, 1973: Senate Committee wants the White House tapes and documents
July 25, 1973: Nixon refuses
August 9, 1973: Senate Committee sues Nixon for not handing over the tapes and documents
October 23, 1973: Nixon gives some edited transcripts of the tapes
November 21, 1973: A gap of about 20 minutes on a transcript between Nixon and Haldeman on June 20, 1972, is found
February 6, 1974: House of Representatives investigates whether to impeach Nixon
July 24, 1974: Supreme Court says Nixon must release all tapes and documents
July 27-30, 1974: Investigations decide Nixon can be impeached
August 5, 1974: Final tapes are released. June 23, 1972, tape is the 'smoking gun'
August 9, 1974: Nixon quits, Gerald Ford becomes President
People Involved in the Watergate Scandal
The burglars: James McCord, E. Howard Hunt, G. Gordon Liddy, Bernard Barker, Frank Sturgis, Eugenio Martinez, Virgilio Gonzales.
Those in the cover-up: Richard Nixon, John Mitchell, John Ehrlichman, Bob Haldeman, John Dean.
War Powers Act
The War Powers Act of 1973 limits the president's power to use the U.S. in war without Congress's approval.
The president can only send armed forces with a declaration of war by Congress.
The bill was made because of Nixon's secret bombings in Cambodia during the Vietnam War without telling Congress.
Nixon vetoed the bill, but it passed with two-thirds of both the House and Senate.
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
The Federal Election Campaign Act was passed in the U.S. in 1971.
It watches the money raised and spent in federal elections.
It limits how much can be given to candidates and parties.
Contributions must be shown during campaigns.
Corporate and union contributions were banned.
In 1974, FECA was changed with the creation of the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
FEC is an agency that enforces campaign finance law.
Privacy Act of '74
The Privacy Act of 1974 was made on December 31, 1974.
It sets rules for how government agencies collect, use, and share personal info.
Agencies must tell the public by posting notices.
Sharing info without consent is not allowed unless there are exceptions.
People can see and change their info and know if their records have been shared.
Congressional Budget Control Act '74
The Congressional Budget Act lets Congress adopt a budget that the president doesn't sign.
This budget sets limits on spending and revenues.
The Act made an orderly budget process and gave Congress fiscal power.
The Act was passed because Congress thought Nixon was overreaching in making budgets.
Ford & Presidential Pardon
In December 1973, Gerald Ford became vice president when Spiro T. Agnew quit.
Agnew quit because of financial issues.
When Nixon quit, Congress stopped the impeachment.
On September 8, 1974, Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon.
People thought Ford did this to become president.
Ford's approval went down, which made him lose the 1976 election.
Summary of the Watergate Scandal
President Nixon was worried about leaks and set up the White House Plumbers.
The Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP) was made to raise money for Nixon's campaign in 1971.
The White House Plumbers spied on Nixon's rivals.
On June 17, 1972, five men were caught bugging the National Democratic Committee's office in the Watergate complex.
They were linked to CREEP and some White House staff, but Nixon denied any White House staff were involved.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein from the Washington Post kept Watergate in the news.
James McCord said that White House officials told the burglars to lie in court.
The Select Committee on Presidential Activities held hearings in May 1973, showing the corruption.
Nixon fought the committee, who wanted to