All the All the President’s President’s

MenMenAn accurate description of the early work of Carl Bernstein,

Bob Woodward, and the editors of the Washington Post in uncovering the Watergate

scandal

During the 20During the 20thth century, the century, the executive branch of the US executive branch of the US government gained power.government gained power.

The term The term Imperial PresidencyImperial Presidency was used to described this was used to described this type of power.type of power.

1970s – Richard Nixon, 371970s – Richard Nixon, 37thth President, began to act as if he President, began to act as if he were above the law.were above the law.

Richard M. NixonRichard M. Nixon

January 9, 1913 –

April 22, 1994

John Newton MitchellJohn Newton Mitchell(Sept. 1913 – Nov. 9, 1988) (Sept. 1913 – Nov. 9, 1988)

was the first was the first United States United States Attorney GeneralAttorney General ever to ever to be convicted of illegal be convicted of illegal activities and imprisoned. activities and imprisoned. He also served as He also served as campaign director for the campaign director for the Committee to Re-elect the Committee to Re-elect the President, which President, which engineered the Watergate engineered the Watergate first break-in and employed first break-in and employed Watergate burglar James Watergate burglar James W. McCord, Jr. in a W. McCord, Jr. in a "security" capacity."security" capacity.

Committee to Re-electCommittee to Re-elect 1972 – Nixon & close aides 1972 – Nixon & close aides

authorized a number of illegal authorized a number of illegal campaign tactics.campaign tactics.

Attempted to break into and bug the Attempted to break into and bug the headquarters for the Democratic headquarters for the Democratic National Committee located in the National Committee located in the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC.Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC.

Burglars were caught in the act.Burglars were caught in the act. Tried to cover-up their own Tried to cover-up their own

involvement through perjury, payoffs involvement through perjury, payoffs and destroying evidence.and destroying evidence.

Watergate HotelWatergate Hotel

Kennedy Center in the background

More on Break-inMore on Break-in The cover-up was planned and The cover-up was planned and

executed from the White House and executed from the White House and the Attorney General of the US (the the Attorney General of the US (the man who is in charge of seeing that man who is in charge of seeing that laws are enforced and obeyed).laws are enforced and obeyed).

2 top aides to Nixon, the CIA, and 2 top aides to Nixon, the CIA, and the FBI were involved in the cover-the FBI were involved in the cover-up.up.

Bob Woodward & Carl BernsteinBob Woodward & Carl Bernstein

2 junior reporters from the Washington 2 junior reporters from the Washington PostPost

Uncovered crucial pieces of info that Uncovered crucial pieces of info that came to be called the “Watergate came to be called the “Watergate scandal.”scandal.”

Woodward developed a source, a person Woodward developed a source, a person highly placed in the Nixon highly placed in the Nixon administration, who didn’t want to be administration, who didn’t want to be identified.identified.

W & B kept the identity of “Deep Throat” W & B kept the identity of “Deep Throat” secret for more than 30 years.secret for more than 30 years.

Smoking GunSmoking Gun Nixon had a tape recording system in Nixon had a tape recording system in

his offices and had recorded many his offices and had recorded many conversations.conversations.

Undeniable evidence, spoken by Nixon Undeniable evidence, spoken by Nixon himself and recorded on tape, revealed himself and recorded on tape, revealed that he had obstructed justice and that he had obstructed justice and attempted to cover up the break-in.attempted to cover up the break-in.

This recorded conversation later This recorded conversation later became known as the became known as the Smoking GunSmoking Gun. .

The The United States Supreme CourtUnited States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the President unanimously ruled that the President must hand over the tapes; he complied. must hand over the tapes; he complied.

OutcomeOutcome Nixon’s allies told him that impeachment Nixon’s allies told him that impeachment

was impending, Nixon resigned on Aug. was impending, Nixon resigned on Aug. 9, 1974.9, 1974.

30 of Nixon’s closest aides were 30 of Nixon’s closest aides were convicted of crimes stemming from the convicted of crimes stemming from the burglary, the cover-up and the Nixon burglary, the cover-up and the Nixon administrations illegal efforts to influence administrations illegal efforts to influence the 1972 Democratic primaries to the 1972 Democratic primaries to eliminate the most viable candidates.eliminate the most viable candidates.

About ½ served time in federal prison.About ½ served time in federal prison. Nixon was pardoned by President Ford.Nixon was pardoned by President Ford.

Nixon Nixon ResignsResigns

Nixon Nixon departs the departs the White White House House aboard aboard Marine OneMarine One after after resigning resigning

President Gerald FordPresident Gerald Ford Became President after NixonBecame President after Nixon Only President to serve who was not Only President to serve who was not

elected by the peopleelected by the people Had been a Republican leader in Had been a Republican leader in

CongressCongress Appointed VP by Nixon when Nixon’s 1Appointed VP by Nixon when Nixon’s 1stst

VP, Spiro Agnew, resigned in a plea VP, Spiro Agnew, resigned in a plea bargain with prosecutorsbargain with prosecutors

Agnew had been taking payoffs from Agnew had been taking payoffs from people interested in government people interested in government business while he was VP.business while he was VP.

Watergate ScandalWatergate Scandal Established what most Established what most

Americans had known all along –Americans had known all along –

that the President that the President was not above the was not above the law!law!