Nixon & WatergateNixon & Watergate

The End for LBJ & American The End for LBJ & American LiberalismLiberalism

Social Turmoil of the mid to late 1960’s causes “Social Turmoil of the mid to late 1960’s causes “white white backlash.”backlash.”

Causes:Causes: 1. Vietnam war – Anti-war demonstrations.1. Vietnam war – Anti-war demonstrations. 2. Civil rights—Violence and riots.2. Civil rights—Violence and riots. 3. Counterculture (hippies!)3. Counterculture (hippies!)

To many whites (especially middle-class, blue collar), To many whites (especially middle-class, blue collar), society seems to be unraveling and they blame the party in society seems to be unraveling and they blame the party in power (The Democrats).power (The Democrats).

Also feel that they are being neglected—the minorities and Also feel that they are being neglected—the minorities and women are getting the attention.women are getting the attention.

This begins America’s move towards conservatism. This begins America’s move towards conservatism.

Nixon’s ComebackNixon’s Comeback Had lost to Kennedy in 1960 and Had lost to Kennedy in 1960 and

then ran for gov. of CA and lost that then ran for gov. of CA and lost that too.too.

Claimed to represent the Claimed to represent the “Silent “Silent MajorityMajority,” people who were ,” people who were following the rules and not following the rules and not protesting, etc. protesting, etc.

Said that he would restore “Said that he would restore “Law & Law & Order”Order”

Said that he had a secret plan to Said that he had a secret plan to end the Vietnam war in which the end the Vietnam war in which the US would achieve “US would achieve “Peace with Peace with HonorHonor.”.”

Nixon Wins!Nixon Wins!

Republican Richard Republican Richard Nixon wins the Nixon wins the 1968 presidential 1968 presidential election.election.

He wins again in He wins again in 1972.1972.

A. Imperial PresidencyA. Imperial Presidency

B. Mean Spirited & suspicious.B. Mean Spirited & suspicious.

C. Small Inner Circle.C. Small Inner Circle.

What was the Enemies List?What was the Enemies List?

List of people that List of people that Nixon and his Nixon and his advisors felt were advisors felt were “against them.”“against them.”

They spied on them.They spied on them.

Ordered IRS to Ordered IRS to harass them.harass them.

What was CREEP?What was CREEP?

Committee to re-elect the president.Committee to re-elect the president.

Used some of the $ for “dirty tricks” Used some of the $ for “dirty tricks” against opponents.against opponents.

Who were the Plumbers?Who were the Plumbers?

Special Special investigations unit of investigations unit of CREEP that was CREEP that was supposed to prevent supposed to prevent security leaks.security leaks.

One of the Plumbers, One of the Plumbers, G Gordon Liddy, G Gordon Liddy, came up with the came up with the plan for Watergate. plan for Watergate.

What was Watergate?What was Watergate?

Office-apartment complex.Office-apartment complex.

Democratic National Committee has Democratic National Committee has an office there.an office there.

G. Gordon Liddy comes up with the G. Gordon Liddy comes up with the plan to break into the Watergate plan to break into the Watergate complex and plant “bugs” to figure out complex and plant “bugs” to figure out what the Democrats are doing.what the Democrats are doing.

What Happened at the What Happened at the Arrest?Arrest?

CREEP Burglars are arrested during CREEP Burglars are arrested during break-in.break-in.

People have telephone # to White People have telephone # to White House.House.

White House denies.White House denies.

Woodward & BernsteinWoodward & Bernstein

Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein were Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein were Washington Post reporters on Washington Post reporters on Watergate beat.Watergate beat.

Secret source = “Deep Throat.”Secret source = “Deep Throat.”

Identity of Deep Throat revealed in 2005 Identity of Deep Throat revealed in 2005 = Mark Felt, the #2 guy in FBI.= Mark Felt, the #2 guy in FBI.

Senate InvestigationSenate Investigation

Chaired by Sam Ervin.Chaired by Sam Ervin.

John DeanJohn Dean, the White House Counsel, , the White House Counsel, testifies that there had been a cover testifies that there had been a cover up and that Nixon had directed it.up and that Nixon had directed it.

Another witness tells that Another witness tells that Nixon had Nixon had secretly taped all of his conversationssecretly taped all of his conversations in the White House.in the White House.

The TapesThe Tapes Nixon refused to give Nixon refused to give

them up.them up.

Was ordered to by court.Was ordered to by court.

Tapes showed the dark Tapes showed the dark side of Nixon—petty, side of Nixon—petty, vindictive, lots of vindictive, lots of profanity, and ethnic profanity, and ethnic slurs.slurs.

Some of the tapes have Some of the tapes have “gaps.”“gaps.”

ImpeachmentImpeachment

House Judiciary House Judiciary Committee begins Committee begins Impeachment Impeachment proceedings.proceedings.

Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns

He was not He was not impeached!impeached!

Ford Pardons NixonFord Pardons Nixon Nixon’s first VP, Spiro Agnew, Nixon’s first VP, Spiro Agnew,

had been forced to resign had been forced to resign (evading taxes and taking (evading taxes and taking bribes).bribes).

Gerald Ford was chosen to Gerald Ford was chosen to replace him.replace him.

Ford Becomes first President Ford Becomes first President never elected as either Pres. Or never elected as either Pres. Or VP.VP.

He Pardons Nixon.He Pardons Nixon.

What Nixon Did WrongWhat Nixon Did Wrong

He had people break into the He had people break into the Democratic headquarters.Democratic headquarters.

He tried to cover it up.He tried to cover it up.

He lied about it.He lied about it.

ReviewReview What things did Nixon promise when he ran What things did Nixon promise when he ran

for President in 1968?for President in 1968?

What were the group of people that Nixon What were the group of people that Nixon claimed to represent?claimed to represent?

What did Nixon say he would achieve in What did Nixon say he would achieve in Vietnam?Vietnam?

What was “Watergate”?What was “Watergate”?

How did Watergate impact Nixon’s How did Watergate impact Nixon’s presidency?presidency?