1) Nixon rose to political power in the 1940s-1960s, holding positions including Congressman, Senator, and Vice President, but also faced accusations of improper financial dealings.
2) As President in the early 1970s, Nixon faced challenges including the Vietnam War and social unrest, while his character was driven but distrustful.
3) In 1972, burglars were caught breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters, leading to investigations that eventually revealed Nixon's involvement in the cover-up and attempts to obstruct the FBI investigation, prompting his resignation in 1974.
1. The Rise & Fall of
Richard M. Nixon
PA 510
Fall 2012
Prepared by:
Jovee Basa
Joshua Perez
2. What Led to Watergate?
O Nixon’s Political Background
O State of the Country
O Nixon’s Character
3. Political Background
O 1946: Elected to House of Representatives
O 1948-49: Alger Hiss Case
O Catapulted his political career
O 1950: Elected to U.S. Senate
O Nickname “Tricky Dick” was dubbed upon him
7. Political Background
O 1960: GOP Candidate for President
O Loses to Democrat John F. Kennedy
O 1962: GOP Candidate for Governor of California
O Loses to Democrat Edmund Brown, Sr.
O Speculation of political career had come to an end
O 1968: GOP Candidate for President
O President Johnson, not seeking a 2nd term
O Robert F. Kennedy assassinated
8. State of the Country
O Vietnam War, escalates
O 1968: Assassination of Martin Luther King,
Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy
O riots
O Democratic convention riot
O Ongoing social and cultural revolution
O sex, drugs and rock n roll
9. Character
O Very intelligent / ambitiously driven
O “Ruthless” / tough politician
O Life shaped by hardship (middle-class)
O Distrusts people – tendency to be let
down
O Obsessed with power
O Introvert
10. Events leading to Watergate
O 1971: Pentagon Papers
O Containing secrets prolonging the war
O Leaked to NY Times
O Nixon attempts to prevent publishing, citing
National Security
O NY Times vs. United States
O NY Times sues Nixon
O NY times wins Supreme Court ruling &
publishes papers
O Media gains more power of freedom of speech
11. Events leading to Watergate
O Nixon starts recording conversations in
White House
O Thoughts of conspiracy against him begins
O Sets up “The Plumbers” to investigate
leaks
O Creates committee to re-elect the
President (CRP)
12. Watergate Burglary
O June 17, 1972: Break-in at the Watergate
Hotel, headquarters of the Democratic
National Committee
O Five burglars discovered and arrested
13. Washington Post
O Who were the five burglars and why were
they placing bugs in the Democratic
Headquarters?
O Two journalist investigate
O Aided by a whistle blower called “Deep
Throat”
O Seven accused of scandal
O President Nixon re-elected
14. Plumbers go to court
O The trial of the Watergate burglars
O Role of Judge Sirica
O The bribery of the plumbers not to talk
O Nixon aid reveals secret tapes
O Congress investigates
O President claimed executive privilege
O Grand Jury indictments
O Charged with conspiracy to obstruct
justice and perjury
15. Secret Tapes
O Nixon tapes reveal
O Burglary / bugging
O Extortion / lies
O Cover-up: Smoking gun tape - using CIA to
interfere with FBI investigation
O H.R. Haldeman = Chief of Staff
O L. Patrick Gray = FBI director
O Mark Felt = Assoicate FBI Director (#2 in
charge); Deep throat (revealed in 2005)
O Vernon Walters = Deputy Director CIA
16. “Smoking Gun Tape”
CIA interference of FBI Watergate investigation.
Nixon and his Chief of Staff, Haldeman discussing it
17. Resignation
O July 1974: the House of Representatives
voted to impeach President Nixon
O August 9, 1974: President Nixon resigned
O September 1974: Nixon granted full
pardon
O 1977: Frost interviews Nixon
O “When the presidents does it, its’ not
illegal”
