by alaina gercak, michael deangelo, and marissa green period 7
TRANSCRIPT
Unlocking the Gate:
By Alaina Gercak, Michael DeAngelo, and Marissa GreenPeriod 7
The Truth Behind the Watergate Scandal
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June 18, 1972…
The first trickles of what eventually became the political flood of the Watergate Scandal make it on to the front page of the Washington Post.
The article :
FIVE HELD IN PLOT TO BUG DEMOCRATIC OFFICES HERE
INTRODUCTION
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On June 17th, the previous day, the Democratic National Committee’s office was broken into and robbed.
This office was located inside the Water Gate Hotel, a luxurious spot in Water Gate Plaza, Washington D.C.
This event, along with the cover-ups, corruption, feuds, and conspiracies that followed, would forever be remembered as
The Watergate Scandal.
INTRODUCTION
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THE BURGLARY
WHO WAS INVOLVED:
• Bernard L. Barker
• Former CIA operative
• Virgilio L. Gonsales
• Cuban refugee
• James W. McCord
• Former FBI & CIA agent
• security coordinator for Republican National Committee
• Eugenio R. Martinez
• worked for Barker; had CIA connections
• Frank A. Sturgis
• Barker’s associate; CIA connections
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THE BURGLARY Early that morning,
the five robbers were dressed in classy business suits that contained $1300 in their pockets, and
came equipped with cameras, recording devices, and other bugging equipment in an attempt to
“dig up dirt” on the opposing party.
At 2:30 AM,They were caught and arrested.
The next day,It was revealed by the Washington Post that one of the burglars worked for Republican
Richard Nixon’s re-election for president.
That’s when things started to really unravel.
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THE MEDIA & THE SCANDAL
The Washington Post got a running start on the
Watergate Scandal.
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two young, aspiring journalists at the Post, were attracted to the
story from the beginning.
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THE MEDIA AND THE SCANDAL
As the two dug deeper into the story, many things became
revealed.
First, they were the ones who uncovered that one of the burglars, James McCord, was apart of the reelection campaign for President Nixon.
A few weeks later, Bernstein and Woodward revealed that two men that had also worked in the White House had testified in a grand jury. Later, they found out that the two men instructed the robbery through walkie-talkies from hotel rooms.
Bernstein discovered that $25,000 dollars for Nixon's campaign was deposited in the bank account of one of the burglars.
The Post connected Nixon to the robbery.
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THE MEDIA AND THE SCANDAL
The Post had a HUGE advantage over other media sources;
Woodward met with FBI associate director Mark Felt, nicknamed "Deep Throat."
His identity was unknown for 33 years.
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John Sirica was the judge of the robbers' trials.
He asked the jury:"bring in a verdict that will help restore the faith in the democratic system that has been so damaged by the conduct of these two defendants and their coconspirators."
During the trials, he tried forcing information out the defendants.
THE MEDIA AND THE SCANDAL
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All but McCord and G. Gordon Liddy pleaded guilty. They were convicted on January 31, 1973, for conspiracy, burglary, and bugging the
headquarters of the democratic party.
THE MEDIA AND THE SCANDAL
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The Post continued coverage, but it didn't stop Nixon from winning the
presidency that same year. Their articles were denounced by the White House and considered biased.
THE MEDIA AND THE SCANDAL
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By the time the summer had come in 1973, there were two ongoing investigations regarding the Watergate break-in.They were led by:
Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox- He was appointed by Nixon's new Attorney General Elliot Richardson to investigate the burglary and everything else about the White House and Nixon's reelection campaign.
North Carolina Senator Sam Ervin- chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee; a Democrat best known for his interest in the constitutional law.
THE MEDIA AND THE SCANDAL
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After the Senate Watergate committee began its televised hearings and top Presidential aides like John Dean were removed from the White House, it is just a matter of time before President Nixon is implicated in the matter.
Up to this point, Nixon has denied any prior knowledge of the Watergate affair.
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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June 3, 1973- The Washington Post reports that John Dean has told investigators that he spoke to President Nixon at least 35 times.
“Dean has told investigators that Mr. Nixon had prior knowledge of payments used to buy the silence of the Watergate conspirators and of offers of executive clemency extended in his name, the sources said.” -Washington Post, “Dean Alleges Nixon Knew of Cover-up Plan”
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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From this point on, the President is caught increasingly and irrevocably in the quagmire of the Watergate scandal.
July 13, 1973- Former Secretary Alexander Butterfield reveals that President Nixon records all official White House conversations.July 18, 1973- Nixon orders the taping system disconnected.July 23, 1973- Nixon refuses to turn over the tapes to the special prosecutor.October 20, 1973- Several more top White House figures are fired or resign in the so-called “Saturday Night Massacre.”
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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At this time, pressure was increasing in the Senate and the House of Representatives to impeach President Nixon. On November 17, 1973, Nixon made his famous declaration:
“I’m not a crook.”
The White House releases several edited tapes and transcripts, but the committee wants the original tapes in full.
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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After the Watergate Committee subpoenas the White House tapes, Nixon claims executive privilege and battled the subpoena all the way to the Supreme Court. Though he has released the edited tapes and transcripts, discrepancies abound.
Nixon has already been named as an unindicted co-conspirator in one case involving White House staff, and on July 24, 1974 the Supreme Court rules 8-0 that Nixon must hand over the subpoenaed tapes.
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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This is the end of the road for Nixon. Three days after the Supreme Court
ruling, the House begins the impeachment process. Republican Congressman advise
Nixon that his chances of avoiding impeachment are “gloomy.”
On August 9th, 1974, Nixon becomes the first President in the history of the United States to resign his
office:
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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“I regret deeply any injuries that may have been done in the course of the events that led to this decision. I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong, and some were wrong, they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interest of the Nation.”
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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Vice President Gerald Ford takes over the day after Nixon’s resignation. He pardons Nixon on all charges related to the Watergate scandal on September 8th of that year.
Nixon spends the rest of his life attempting to rehabilitate his reputation in the wake of the scandal through a series of books, speeches, and diplomatic tours.
On April 22nd, 1994, former President Richard Milhous Nixon dies in New York City.
NIXON’s INVOLVEMENT
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25 years later, Watergate is still a hot topic…
But instead of Nixon being on the chopping block, John W. Dean and G.Gordon Liddy are. Rumors conspire that the “attempt to dig up dirt on the democratic office” was simply a cover-up for the real scandal: a secret call-girl ring.
Some also say that the cover-up was meant to protect Dean’s girlfriend at the time.
If this is true, would President Nixon have resigned?
The world may never know.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
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RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION AND IMAGES:
http://watergate.info/
The Great Cover-Up by Barry Sussman
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/watergate.jpg
http://www.escapefromamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/watergate2-300x241.jpg
http://images.biafranigeriaworld.com/MarkFelt_DeepThroat.jpg
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/12/19/1229689262746/Gallery-deepthroat-dies---002.jpg
http://www.jordalgar.com/revista20/watergate/34-sirica.jpg
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/images/2008/06/01/richard_nixon_1972_0824_spiro_agnew.jpg
http://www.nndb.com/people/400/000022334/ford-pardon-nixon-smaller.jpg