Watergate Essay, Research Paper

Watergate

In June of 1972 an event occurred that changed the course of history. On June 12,

1972 there was a break-in at the Watergate Hotel. When the police arrived they found 5

men equipped with electronic bugging devices and burglary tools at the headquarters for

the Democratic National Convention. Two of the individuals were James McCord and G.

Gordon Liddy, both members of the committee to re-elect the president. A third suspect

was E. Howard Hunt, a former CIA agent and White House aide.

When the news broke President Nixon claimed that no one in the White House had

any prior knowledge to the burglary. The break-in was part of an elaborate plan by

CREEP to sabotage Nixon?s opposition for re-election. A week after the break in Nixon

agreed to cover up the White House?s involvement in the break in. Nixon claimed that

any further investigation of the scandal was a threat to national security and needed to

cease immediately. This plan seemed to work until early 1973 when the trial for the

Watergate break-in began. Nixon had his chance to come clean at this time, but he chose

not to. This only made things worse for him Once the trial began his involvement in the

cover up became greater, and involved blackmailing by those who were on trial for the

break-in.

The Watergate trial was brief, 5 of the defendant plead guilty and the other 2 were

convicted by the jury. Before Judge Sircia sentenced the defendants there was a letter

written by McCord read to the court that implicated that higher ups in the White House

Administration had prior knowledge of the burglary and had committed perjury. Nixon?s

cover up was beginning to come apart and he told the American public that he had no

prior knowledge of the break in or the cover up that followed until March 21, which was a

lie. By April 30, 1973 Nixon was under extreme pressure and announced to America the

resignation of his key advisors and legal consul. On May 22, 1973 Nixon came before the

American public and told of his involvement in the wiretapping and how he had helped

establish the Intelligence Unit to protect any threat to national security.

The summer of 1973 was a turning point in the Watergate Scandal. The Senate

Watergate Hearings began, and they were led by Senator Sam Ervin. The trial was

televised and the American public was able to see the political sabotage and deception that

was carried out by the White House. America learned of the hush money that was paid

and the destruction of evidence to keep the affair under wraps.

The testimony of John Dean in June of 1973 was particularly damaging to Nixon.

Dean?s testimony was clear, concise and to the point. He informed the committed of a set

of tapes that were made in the Oval Office that would implicate Nixon?s involvement in

the scandal. Archibald Cox, who was the special prosecutor on the case wanted the tapes,

and he demanded them from Nixon, who refused to hand them over. On October 20 of

that year Cox again demanded the tapes and was prepared to get a court order for Nixon

to turn them over. In turn Nixon ordered attorney general Richardson to fire Cox, which

he refused, as did the deputy attorney general. Both men resigned. On that Saturday

night the solicitor general carried out Nixon?s wishes and fired Cox. With the threat of

Impeachment looming Nixon turned over the tapes. While the struggle for the tapes was

going on there were additional charges brought against the president.

On July 30, 1974 the committee voted on 3 articles of impeachment. Nixon was

accused of obstructing justice, violating his oath, abusing his power, subverting the

constitutional rights of citizens, and disobeying subpoenas for White House records and

tapes.

On August 8, 1974 Nixon went on national television announce his resignation.

He admitted no wrong doing, but admitted to using bad judgment