Richard Nixon “I am not a Crook”

1. Richard Nixon“I am not a Crook”

2. Richard M Nixon • 37th President of the United States of America • Serving from 1969-1974 • Worked for the federal government since 1942 • Only president to resign the office of the Presidency • Enigma (paradox) • Increase involvement in Vietnam and then helped to end the war • Took a hard line on communism and then ushered in détente • Return power to the States but then increased the power of the federal government • Increased some federal welfare program but dismantled (got rid of ) others • Increased the power of the presidency and then that very power lead to his downfall

3. 1968 Presidential Election Year • Richard M Nixon (R) vs Herbert Humphrey • Nixon wins 1968 election • Promises to restore Law and Order • Silent Majority • Plan to get US out of Vietnam • Decrease the “Credibility Gap”

4. New Federalism • Saw that people were upset with the big government of LBJ but still wanted the government to provide a basic standard of living • Said he would reverse the flow of power from the States to Washington back from Washington to the States • Money would come from the federal government to fund social programs but the states would control the operations/spending for these social programs • Called “Revenue Sharing”

5. The Imperial President There have only been three times that there were five living presidents at the same times Photo graph taken at Nixon’ burial 1994. • Nixon continues to increase the power of the executive branch • Term coined by Historian Arthur M Schlesinger, Jr • Restoring Law and Order • Illegal wire tapes • CIA investigated American citizens • Created the “Enemies List” • List of Americans that the administration would harass

6. The President’s Men • Distance from Congress • Small group of loyal advisers • H.R. Haldeman – chief of staff • John Ehrlichman – domestic advisor • John Mitchell – attorney general • Desire for secrecy and consolidation of power • Developed idea that they were above the law

7. Nixon and the economy • US experienced “stagflation” • a recession and inflation at the same time • Causes • gov spending money (expanding federal budget deficits – due to war) • no jobs (Rising foreign competition - cost American’s their jobs) • Government gone bad! • Add to Stagflation • OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) • Placed an embargo in Israel’s allies • Oil prices went up 400% • Lasted until spring of 1974 • Gas lines became a daily occurrence • Tried to fix it – no real luck

8. Nixon and Détente • Foreign policy was were it was at • National Security advisor – Henry Kissinger • Practice “Realpolitik” • Realistic foreign policies • should be based on power not morals and ethics • Took a more flexible approach with Soviet Union and China • Wanted to ease tension • Traveled to China in 1971 • Traveled to Soviet Union in 1972 • Opened up diplomatic and economic relations with both countries • Made him very popular and was widely received

9. Nixon meets with Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev. Nixon at the Great Wall

10. The 1972 Election Campaign • Had narrowly won in 1968 • Wanted to expand his base of support • Southern Strategy • Plan to win over the South • Targeted blue collar workers and southern whites who had traditional voted Democratic • Some actions taken • Appointed conservative judges to Supreme Court • Asked for a freeze on court ordered busing • Plan worked • In 1972 won 61% of the popular votes and 520 of the electoral votes to George McGovern’s 37% and 17 • Became first Republican to sweep the entire South

11. 1972 Presidential Results

12. Watergate Brings Nixon Down • Botched burglary attempt at DNC in Watergate at 2:30 am on June 17, 1972 • Photograph documents outlining Dem Party strategy • “bug” the phones • Burglars were tired in 1973 • James McCord (one of the burglars – former CIA agent) charged that the administration had been involved • John Mitchell was CReeP director • Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein investigated and uncovered the Watergate Scandal • Followed tip from “Deep Throat” (a top FBI official) • Nixon forced to resign on August 8, 1974

13. Events of Watergate Deep Throat – Mark Felt • Cover up began • Shredded documents in Halderman’s office • Asked the CIA to stop FBI investigations into the burglary on the grounds of national security • CReeP gave out $450,000 to the burglars to buy their silence

14. Cover up Unravels • Judge John Sirica in the trail of the burglars made it clear he felt the men has not acted alone • James McCord admitted his lied under oath and hinted that members of Nixon’s administration knew • Nixon announced the resignations of Haldeman and Ehrlichman, and John Dean • All had been involved in Watergate • Nixon went on TV and denied any attempt to cover up Watergate • Senate begins it own investigation of Watergate

15. Testimony • John Dean said that the President had been deeply involved in the cover-up • Alexander Butterfield, an aid to the president, told the committee that Nixon had taped all of his conversations “to help him write his memoirs” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeQXopJ5U-Q

16. Saturday Night Massacre • Archibald Cox, special prosecutor for the case asked for the tapes • Nixon refused • Nixon ordered Att General Richardson to fire Cox • He would not and resigned • Deputy attorney general also refused and he was fired • Finally Solicitor General did fire Cox • Event became known as the Saturday Night Massacre • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5AndvL7Y9k

17. Nixon Releases the Tapes • Spring of 1974 he told Americans that he was going to release 1,254 page doc of edited transcripts • Investigators demanded the unedited tapes • Supreme court ruled that he must surrender the tapes • It would not violate national security • At a press conference he said, “I am not a crook.” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh163n1lJ4M • House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment • Obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress • Nixon released the tapes • Many gaps • 18 ½ min gap • Tape dated June 23 reveled that he had agreed to the plan to cover up and obstruct justice • Smoking Gun

18. The Watergate “Five” (Bob Haldeman, John Mardian, Kenneth Parkinson, John Ehrlichman, John Mitchell),

19. Aftermath of Watergate • Brings a President down and 24 members of his administration • American public becomes cynical/disillusionment with the federal government • Truthfulness government falls from 80% to 33% • Congress establishes method for naming an independent counsel to investigate the White House • Shows the System of Checks and Balances really does work • The other two branches checked the power of the presidency