Chapter 29, Lesson 3Chapter 29, Lesson 3

Committee to Re-Elect the President

Approached by a former FBI agent who proposed to spy on Democrats

Planned called for photographing documents and placing wire taps

June 17, 1972, five burglars break into the Watergate building in Washington D.C.

A night watchman becomes suspicious and calls the police

CREEP

Watergate Complex

Five burglars convicted of conspiracy, burglary,

and wiretapping offenses One of the men (James McCord) wrote a letter

to the judge McCord said that he’d lied about who was

involved – implicated many of Nixon’s top officials and aids

Many of Nixon’s top aids resigned and one (John Dean) was fired

Nixon’s speech to the nation

Scandal Exposed

Nixon gives permission

for the appointment of Archibald Cox as special prosecutor to investigate Watergate

Senate begins its own investigation Hearings are televised

and last 3 months

Scandal Exposed

Fired aid John Dean tells the Senate

investigating committee that Nixon had ordered the cover-up

Nixon denies it Senate learns of tapes that could prove who

was telling the truth Nixon refuses to turn over the tapes

(executive privilege)

Scandal Exposed

Nixon’s VP is Spiro T.

Agnew Agnew is investigated

for bribery, extortion, and tax evasion during his time as Maryland governor and while VP

Nixon nominates Gerald Ford

Vice President Resigns

“Saturday Night Massacre”

Nixon orders Archibald Cox fired Attorney General Richardson resigns in protest Nixon fires his deputy as well

American public is outraged Newspapers demand Nixon resign

Nixon hands over subpoenaed tapes One tape has an 18 minute gap Some tapes are “lost”

What Happened to Nixon

Nixon planned on giving typed pages of what was

contained in missing tapes Nixon refuses again to turn over the missing tapes

They contained evidence against him and he knows it

Nixon hands over typed notes – indicating he had been involved in the cover up from the very beginning

To avoid being impeached, Nixon resigned – August 9, 1974

What Happened to Nixon

Nixon Resignation Ford Clip

Nixon Resignation