Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory The Watergate Scandal A Paranoid Leader Goes Criminal Nixon, still popular, feared losing to democrat McGovern in 72 Break in at DNC headquarters at Watergate Hotel by CREEP to spy on election plans Nixon Wins in a Landslide!!! The Conspiracy Begins to Break Down Burglars caught by night watchman Put on trial in 73 Were supposed to stay quiet James McCord rats on the government demonstrating a bugging The Senate Investigates TV hearings show growing list of those accusing the administration Guilt moving up hierarchy Advisors Begin to resign Archibald Cox, Special Prosecutor on Watergate Nixons Inner-Sanctum Selling Out White House Counsel John Dean tells Hearings that Nixon authorized a cover-up (maybe even the burglary) Nixon Denies Involvement Government Probe Stalling Deep Throat Leaks to Reporters FBIs #2 man, Mark Felt, gives info in secret to Washington Post Reporters Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward Post claims links between CREEP & the Watergate Burglars America Sours on Nixon Only 20% Believe Hes Innocent A Second Scandal Rocks DC VP Spiro Agnew resigns over tax-evasion Nixon nominates Gerald Ford to be new VP New Info Comes To Light Nixon had secret tape recorders in White House Many come to believe these tapes will prove Nixons guilt Nixon Stonewalls the Prosecution Refuses to hand over tapes, claims executive privilege of confidentiality The Saturday Night Massacre Oct. 73, Nixon offers summaries Cox Refuses Pres. fires two Attorneys General till he gets one to fire Cox (R. Bork) New Prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, demands tapes The Inner Circle Goes Down Nixon on the Ropes Mar, 74, Admin officials indicted for conspiracy Nixon called un-indicted co-conspirator July- US Supreme Court demands tapes The Smoking Gun 18 minutes of the tapes erased!!! Nixon claims secretary accidentally did it Even So, tapes prove Nixon conspiracy to cover up Watergate House Prepares Articles of Impeachment Obstruction of Justice, Abuse of Power, Contempt of Congress Debate lingers on if he ordered break in, but he did cover up investigation Other Misdeeds Revealed CREEP made Enemies List to use Fed agencies to harass political enemies Illegally used wire taps to spy on gov. employees & reporters Nixon Resigns August 9, 1974 iCue Biography of Richard M. Nixon