The Price of Paranoia:Richard Nixon, the Election of

1968, and Watergate

Background on NixonMajor player in Second Red Scare Vice-President under Eisenhower, though never on good terms with IkeUnlikely friendship with JFK and growing obsession with KennedysNarrow loss to JFK in 1960 presidential electionUninspiring California gubernatorial campaign in 1962 leaves Nixon in political wilderness

Political & Social Conditions for 1968 Campaign

• Tet Offensive in Vietnam ruins LBJ’s re-election bid

• Slaying of Martin Luther King, Jr. exacerbates racial divide and throws Democratic field into further turmoil

Phenomenon of Senator Robert F. Kennedy

• Picked up torch for MLK, Jr. only to fall victim himself

Democratic Convention - Chicago• Microcosm of 1960s• Party makes “safe” choice with V.P. Hubert

Humphrey while this normally Democratic city is rocked by protests (primarily anti-war)

Meet the “New Nixon” of 1968

Election Results

Birth of the “Plumbers”

• Team created in 1969 to prevent leaks by White House staffers would grow into a more insidious outfit.

• By 1971 it was engaged in political “dirty tricks” and became part of 1972 re-election campaign.

“Dirty Tricks” Inventory

• Break-in of psychiatrist’s office to pick up dirt on Daniel Ellsberg (Pentagon Papers)

• Setting off stink bombs at Democratic campaign rallies

• Making large pizza orders in name of Democrats

• Illegal fundraising• Character assassination through

manufacturing ethnic slurs

Watergate Break-In

• Quickly became clear that this was not your average robbery

The Cover-Up

• Nixon suggests using national security as camouflage for what was a purely political operation.

• Nixon approves “hush money” for burglars to keep full scope of the conspiracy secret.

• Meanwhile 1972 campaign sees Nixon take every state except Massachusetts against Senator George McGovern (D-SD)

Enter the Fourth Estate• Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward

and Carl Bernstein begin to uncover elements of a broader conspiracy.

“Saturday Night Massacre” Oct ‘73• Nixon loses top two Justice Dept. officials in

effort to remove Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox – now constitutional crisis is clear.

Exit Vice-President Spiro Agnew

• Nixon’s “Nixon” ended up jailed for non-Watergate related crimes.

Gerald Ford Appointed Vice-President

November 1973 – “I am not a Crook”

• Nixon fails to replicate “Checkers” victory of 1952

Summary of Process for Removing a President

• Impeachment (roughly an indictment for high crimes and misdemeanors) requires majority vote of House of Representatives

• Then a trial of sorts is conducted in the Senate to be followed by a vote on each article of impeachment.

• Removal requires two-thirds vote in Senate.• Only impeached presidents: Andrew Johnson,

Bill Clinton (neither removed from office)

Battle over White House Tapes

Nixon’s Resignation

Watergate Wrap-Up