Nixon & Watergate
The End for LBJ & American
Liberalism
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Social Turmoil of the mid to late 1960’s causes “white backlash.”
Causes:
1. Vietnam war – Anti-war demonstrations.
2. Civil rights—Violence and riots.
3. Counterculture (hippies!)
To many whites (especially middle-class, blue collar), society seems
to be unraveling and they blame the party in power (The
Democrats).
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Also feel that they are being neglected—the minorities and women
are getting the attention.
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This begins America’s move towards conservatism.
Nixon’s Comeback
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Had lost to Kennedy in 1960 and then
ran for gov. of CA and lost that too.
Claimed to represent the “Silent
Majority,” people who were following
the rules and not protesting, etc.
Said that he would restore “Law &
Order”
Said that he had a secret plan to end
the Vietnam war in which the US would
achieve “Peace with Honor.”
Nixon Wins!
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Republican Richard
Nixon wins the 1968
presidential election.
He wins again in
1972.
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A. Imperial Presidency
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B. Mean Spirited & suspicious.
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C. Small Inner Circle.
What was the Enemies List?
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List of people that
Nixon and his
advisors felt were
“against them.”
They spied on them.
Ordered IRS to harass
them.
What was CREEP?
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Committee to re-elect the president.
Used some of the $ for “dirty tricks”
against opponents.
Who were the Plumbers?
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Special investigations
unit of CREEP that
was supposed to
prevent security
leaks.
One of the Plumbers,
G Gordon Liddy, came
up with the plan for
Watergate.
What was Watergate?
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Office-apartment complex.
Democratic National Committee has an
office there.
G. Gordon Liddy comes up with the plan
to break into the Watergate complex and
plant “bugs” to figure out what the
Democrats are doing.
What Happened at the Arrest?
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CREEP Burglars are arrested during breakin.
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People have telephone # to White House.
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White House denies.
Woodward & Bernstein
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Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein were
Washington Post reporters on Watergate
beat.
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Secret source = “Deep Throat.”
Identity of Deep Throat revealed in 2005 =
Mark Felt, the #2 guy in FBI.
Senate Investigation
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Chaired by Sam Ervin.
John Dean, the White House Counsel,
testifies that there had been a cover up
and that Nixon had directed it.
Another witness tells that Nixon had
secretly taped all of his conversations in
the White House.
The Tapes
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Nixon refused to give them
up.
Was ordered to by court.
Tapes showed the dark
side of Nixon—petty,
vindictive, lots of profanity,
and ethnic slurs.
Some of the tapes have
“gaps.”
Impeachment
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House Judiciary
Committee begins
Impeachment
proceedings.
Nixon Resigns
He was not
impeached!
Ford Pardons Nixon
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Nixon’s first VP, Spiro Agnew, had
been forced to resign (evading
taxes and taking bribes).
Gerald Ford was chosen to replace
him.
Ford Becomes first President never
elected as either Pres. Or VP.
He Pardons Nixon.
What Nixon Did Wrong
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He had people break into the Democratic
headquarters.
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He tried to cover it up.
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He lied about it.
Review
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What things did Nixon promise when he ran for
President in 1968?
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What were the group of people that Nixon
claimed to represent?
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What did Nixon say he would achieve in
Vietnam?
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What was “Watergate”?
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How did Watergate impact Nixon’s presidency?