Chapter 17 Section 2

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Chapter 17 Section 2

• Watergate Brings Down Nixon

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1972 Presidential Election

• President Nixon (looking for reelection) vs.
  Democratic Sen. George McGovern
• Nixon won huge landslide victory
• In election Nixon wanted to win BIG

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Origins of Watergate

• Nixon hoped BIG 1972 win would ensure the
  Republicans would control Congress
• To make sure of big victory some people close
  to Nixon engaged in illegal activities

Richard M. Nixon 37th President of the United
States
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Watergate Scandal

• Everything started in June 1972 five burglars
  were caught breaking into Democratic Headquarters
  at the Watergate office-apartment complex in
  Washington DC
• Burglars were tied to Nixons reelection campaign
  (AKA CREEP Committee to reelect the President)

The Watergate is an office/apartment/hotel
complex located in Washington D.C. It was also
home to the headquarters of the Democratic Party
offices
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Watergate Cover-up

• Nixon likely didnt order the break-in or even
  know about it
• But soon after, Nixon was heard discussing the
  best way to cover up any White House connection
  to the burglars
• It seems that Nixon had now committed a crime (by
  discussing the cover-up)

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Watergate

• Close advisors to Nixon warned him about
  situation
• Nixon then agreed to pay hush money to the
  burglars to keep them quiet
• White House aide John Dean then decided to tell
  everything he knew to the Senate committee
  investigating which included Nixons
  involvement in the cover- up

John Dean in his White House office
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Deans Word vs. Nixons Word

• Nixon continued to deny the charges against him
• It was then discovered that Nixon had recorded
  all conversations in his office
• A battle was fought over the tapes (who gets
  them?)

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More Trouble for Nixon

• Vice President Spiro Agnew was revealed to have
  accepted bribes while governor of Maryland and as
  Vice President
• This scandal was unrelated to Watergate, but
  still hurt Nixon politically
• Nixon nominated Gerald Ford to become the new
  Vice President

Vice President Spiro Agnew
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Nixon Resigns

• Nixon was forced by a court order to release all
  of his tapes
• After he released edited transcripts the
  House of Representatives started impeachment
  hearings
• Nixon decided to resign the presidency making
  Gerald Ford the new president

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President Gerald Ford

• Former Michigan Congressman and Vice President
  under Richard Nixon
• Known for his honesty and hard-working attitude
• Only person to serve as President who wasnt
  elected either President or Vice President by the
  people

Gerald Ford 38th President of the United States