2. On June 17, 1972, five men carryingOn June 17, 1972, five men carrying
wiretapping equipment were arrestedwiretapping equipment were arrested
breaking into the Democratic Nationalbreaking into the Democratic National
CommitteeCommittee’’s headquarters located in thes headquarters located in the
Watergate ComplexWatergate Complex in Washington D.C.in Washington D.C.
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4. Questioned by the press, the WhiteQuestioned by the press, the White
House dismissed the incident asHouse dismissed the incident as ““aa
third-rate burglary attempt.third-rate burglary attempt. ”” PressedPressed
further,further, PresidentPresident NixonNixon himself deniedhimself denied
any White House involvement.any White House involvement.
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5. In fact, G. Gordon Liddy & E. HowardIn fact, G. Gordon Liddy & E. Howard
Hunt, were former FBI and CIA agentsHunt, were former FBI and CIA agents
currently working for Nixoncurrently working for Nixon ’’ss
Committee to Re-elect the President.Committee to Re-elect the President.
Their job was to protect the NixonTheir job was to protect the Nixon
administration, anyway necessary,administration, anyway necessary,
legal or not.legal or not.
Howard HuntG. Gordon Liddy
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6. Hunt and Libby had arranged for theHunt and Libby had arranged for the
illegal wiretaps (listening devices) atillegal wiretaps (listening devices) at
the Democratic headquarters, part ofthe Democratic headquarters, part of
their campaign oftheir campaign of ‘‘dirty tricksdirty tricks’’ againstagainst
the rival Democratic party.the rival Democratic party.
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7. The Watergate incident was not anThe Watergate incident was not an
isolated incident. It was part of aisolated incident. It was part of a
pattern of illegality and misuse ofpattern of illegality and misuse of
power by a paranoid and ruthless Whitepower by a paranoid and ruthless White
House.House.
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8. Nixon could have dissociated himselfNixon could have dissociated himself
from the break-in by dismissing hisfrom the break-in by dismissing his
guilty aides, but it was election time.guilty aides, but it was election time.
Fearful of bad press, he arrangedFearful of bad press, he arranged hushhush
moneymoney for the burglars and instructedfor the burglars and instructed
thethe CIA to stop the FBI investigation.CIA to stop the FBI investigation.
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10. Ordering the CIA to stop the FBI fromOrdering the CIA to stop the FBI from
investigating the Watergate incidentinvestigating the Watergate incident
was anwas an obstruction of justiceobstruction of justice , a, a
criminal offense.criminal offense.
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11. Nixon managed to keep the lid on theNixon managed to keep the lid on the
incident until after his re-election, butincident until after his re-election, but
eventually the lid blew off due toeventually the lid blew off due to
congressional investigations.congressional investigations.
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12. In January 1973, the WatergateIn January 1973, the Watergate
burglars were found guilty. One of themburglars were found guilty. One of them
began to talk about his White Housebegan to talk about his White House
connections.connections.
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13. In the meantime, two reporters at theIn the meantime, two reporters at the
Washington PostWashington Post,, Carl BernsteinCarl Bernstein andand
Bob WoodwardBob Woodward, uncovered the, uncovered the
CommitteeCommittee’’s to Re-elects illegals to Re-elects illegal ““slushslush
fundfund’’ and its links to key White Houseand its links to key White House
aides.aides.
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14. TheThe slush fundslush fund received its moneyreceived its money
illegally from the campaignillegally from the campaign
contributions of the Republican partycontributions of the Republican party
to financeto finance ““mischiefmischief”” against anyoneagainst anyone
that posed a threat to the Nixonthat posed a threat to the Nixon
administration.administration.
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15. In May, a Senate committee beganIn May, a Senate committee began
holding nationally televised hearings,holding nationally televised hearings,
at which it was discovered that theat which it was discovered that the
Watergate break-in was linked to theWatergate break-in was linked to the
White House.White House.
Attorney General John Mitchell,
controlled secret “slush fund.”
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16. The guilty White House officialsThe guilty White House officials
implicated President Nixon. During theimplicated President Nixon. During the
testimony, it was discovered that Nixontestimony, it was discovered that Nixon
had installed ahad installed a secret taping systemsecret taping system inin
the Oval office.the Oval office.
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18. ClaimingClaiming executive privilegeexecutive privilege , Nixon refused, Nixon refused
to surrender the White House tapes. Underto surrender the White House tapes. Under
enormous pressure, he eventually releasedenormous pressure, he eventually released
some of the tapes. One of the tapes wassome of the tapes. One of the tapes was
suspiciously missing 18-minutes ofsuspiciously missing 18-minutes of
recording.recording.
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20. Finally on June 23, 1974, the SupremeFinally on June 23, 1974, the Supreme
Court ordered Nixon to releaseCourt ordered Nixon to release thethe
unaltered tapes. Lawyers were shockedunaltered tapes. Lawyers were shocked
to find concrete evidence that theto find concrete evidence that the
president had orderedpresident had ordered the cover-up ofthe cover-up of
the Watergate break-inthe Watergate break-in ..
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22. By then, the House of RepresentativesBy then, the House of Representatives
had began to considerhad began to consider articles ofarticles of
impeachmentimpeachment, to remove the president, to remove the president
from office.from office.
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23. Certain that he would be convicted byCertain that he would be convicted by
the Senate, on August 9, 1974, Nixonthe Senate, on August 9, 1974, Nixon
became the first U.S. president tobecame the first U.S. president to
resignresign from office.from office.
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24. Gerald Ford swears in as President of the United States.
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25. The next day, Vice PresidentThe next day, Vice President Gerald FordGerald Ford
was sworn in as president. Congressmanwas sworn in as president. Congressman
Ford had replaced Vice President SpiroFord had replaced Vice President Spiro
Agnew, who had himself resigned in 1973 forAgnew, who had himself resigned in 1973 for
acceptingaccepting ““kickbackskickbacks”” while governor ofwhile governor of
Maryland.Maryland.
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26. A month later, Ford stunned the nationA month later, Ford stunned the nation
by granting Nixon aby granting Nixon a ““full, free, andfull, free, and
absoluteabsolute ““pardonpardon”” for all offenses hefor all offenses he
had committed or might havehad committed or might have
committed during his presidency.committed during his presidency. ””
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27. President Ford took that action, hePresident Ford took that action, he
said, to spare the country the agony ofsaid, to spare the country the agony of
NixonNixon’’s criminal prosecution. He felts criminal prosecution. He felt
the country needed to move on.the country needed to move on.
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28. In Moscow, puzzled Soviets leaders couldIn Moscow, puzzled Soviets leaders could
not understand, how a powerful presidentnot understand, how a powerful president
could be forced to resign, because of whatcould be forced to resign, because of what
they viewed as a minor offense.they viewed as a minor offense.
President Nixon shaking hands with Soviet Premier Brezhnev.
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29. Soviet history knew no parallel. ThatSoviet history knew no parallel. That
was one lesson of Watergate – that, inwas one lesson of Watergate – that, in
America, the rule of law prevailed.America, the rule of law prevailed. NoNo
one is above the lawone is above the law , not even the, not even the
president.president.
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30. A second lesson involved the constitutionalA second lesson involved the constitutional
separation of powersseparation of powers . As commander-in-. As commander-in-
chief, Nixon asserted unlimited authority,chief, Nixon asserted unlimited authority,
excusing his wiretapping. The president doesexcusing his wiretapping. The president does
not have absolute power due tonot have absolute power due to checks &checks &
balancesbalances..
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31. Congress pushed back against theCongress pushed back against the
abuses of the Nixon administration,abuses of the Nixon administration,
passing thepassing the War Powers ActWar Powers Act (1973),(1973),
limiting the presidentlimiting the president’’s ability to deploys ability to deploy
U.S. forces without congressionalU.S. forces without congressional
approval.approval.
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32. Congress passed theCongress passed the Freedom ofFreedom of
Information ActInformation Act (1974), protecting(1974), protecting
privacy and access to federal records,privacy and access to federal records,
and theand the Fair Campaign Practices ActFair Campaign Practices Act
(1974), limiting and regulating(1974), limiting and regulating
contributions in presidentialcontributions in presidential
campaigns.campaigns.
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33. Lastly, Congress passed theLastly, Congress passed the FederalFederal
Intelligence Surveillance ActIntelligence Surveillance Act (1978),(1978),
prohibiting domestic wiretappingprohibiting domestic wiretapping
without a warrant.without a warrant.
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