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Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal was Richard Nixon's illegal attempt to gather information about the Democratic party in the 1972 presidential election. It resulted in his resignation in 1974.
423 Questions
How are the Watergate and Iran-contra scandals similar?
Both events were secret attempts by the United States to undermine pro-Soviet governments.
Why did Richard Nixon resingn as president?
In the summer of 1974 Richard Nixon faced mounting pressure because of the continuing discoveries of the Watergate scandal. His approval rating reached an all time low of 23%. Finally on August 9th, 1974 Richard Nixon resigned in order to avoid facing impeachment by the Congress.
What happened to Nixon after the Watergate Scandal?
When Nixon's White House tapes demonstrated that he had authorized the payment of "hush money" to those involved in the Watergate break-in, and it became clear that he was about to be impeached, Nixon resigned.
There was much talk of a criminal prosecution after he left office. Gerald Ford, the Vice President who had taken over as President at Nixon's resignation, was constantly asked about the subject. He decided that the country could not afford to go through such a trial, which would likely last years, so extended a full pardon to Nixon.
Nixon retired to New Jersey and stayed out of the limelight. But his reputation, particularly in the area of foreign affairs, was somewhat revived in the 1980s, chiefly by his writings on the subject.
Why was Watergate a constitutional crisis?
Three articles of impeachment were voted on by the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives against President Nixon at the end of July, 1974. The articles were:
• obstruction of justice
• abuse of power
• contempt of Congress
The reasons for each article is lengthy, but the entire text of each can be found online on many different sites. The genuine fear on the part of lawmakers, pundits, and the media was that the high crimes and misdemeanors laid out by the Judiciary Committee might go unpunished. President Nixon might continue to push back against his critics, and continue to subvert the Constitution, and might leave office in January 1977 having managed to hang on. That seems unlikely. White House staff members had resigned, been ordered to resign or had gone to prison. This did not go unnoticed by those covering the White House, who wondered how deep the story went. Those former employees only knew part of the story. The release of the unexpurgated tapes made it all clear.
After it was all over it was common to hear people say, "the system worked;" in other words, the Constitution worked. It provides for a means to lawfully remove a president from office, and the first of those measures had been enacted. President Nixon had not been able to prevent the House Judiciary committee from doing its job. Rather than see it take its articles to the floor of the House, Nixon resigned. Somewhat ironically, his last act as president was entirely in keeping with the Constitution. (Article 2, Section 1.)
What did the CRP do to cover up Watergate?
the Committee to Re-elect the President used "dirty tricks" to ruin opposing candidates' careers. They organized the Watergate break-in
What date did the Watergate break in occur?
Watergate has entered the political lexicon as a term synonymous with corruption and scandal, yet the Watergate Hotel is one of Washington's plushest hotels. Even today, it is home to former Senator Bob Dole and was once the place where Monica Lewinsky laid low. It was here that the Watergate Burglars broke into the Democratic Party's National Committee offices on June 17, 1972. If it had not been for the alert actions of Frank Wills, a security guard, the scandal may never have erupted. MORE It turned out that the arrest of five men on 17 June 1972 who were trying to install electronic listening devices in the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC was just one of several surreptitious activities sponsored by the Nixon Administration. Nixon’s aides had also engineered the burglary of a Los Angeles psychiatrist’s office to try and obtain damaging information about Daniel Ellsberg, a Defense Department employee who leaked the Pentagon Papers, revealing the activities of the administration regarding Vietnam.
Who were the select committee members during the Watergate scandal?
Local police investigated the burglary and the burglars. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who were reporters for the Washington Post, dug into the story and published it. Archibald Cox was appointed special counsel to look into matter. Eventually the Senate set up a Watergate investigation committee .
Was Nixon pardoned for the Watergate Scandal?
Gerald R Ford pardoned Nixon by saying, (the critical part is in bold at the end)"Ladies and gentlemen:
I have come to a decision which I felt I should tell you and all of my fellow American citizens, as soon as I was certain in my own mind and in my own conscience that it is the right thing to do.
I have learned already in this office that the difficult decisions always come to this desk. I must admit that many of them do not look at all the same as the hypothetical questions that I have answered freely and perhaps too fast on previous occasions.
My customary policy is to try and get all the facts and to consider the opinions of my countrymen and to take counsel with my most valued friends. But these seldom agree, and in the end, the decision is mine. To procrastinate, to agonize, and to wait for a more favorable turn of events that may never come or more compelling external pressures that may as well be wrong as right, is itself a decision of sorts and a weak and potentially dangerous course for a President to follow.
I have promised to uphold the Constitution, to do what is right as God gives me to see the right, and to do the very best that I can for America.
I have asked your help and your prayers, not only when I became President but many times since. The Constitution is the supreme law of our land and it governs our actions as citizens. Only the laws of God, which govern our consciences, are superior to it.
As we are a nation under God, so I am sworn to uphold our laws with the help of God. And I have sought such guidance and searched my own conscience with special diligence to determine the right thing for me to do with respect to my predecessor in this place, Richard Nixon, and his loyal wife and family.
Theirs is an American tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must.
There are no historic or legal precedents to which I can turn in this matter, none that precisely fit the circumstances of a private citizen who has resigned the Presidency of the United States. But it is common knowledge that serious allegations and accusations hang like a sword over our former President's head, threatening his health as he tries to reshape his life, a great part of which was spent in the service of this country and by the mandate of its people.
After years of bitter controversy and divisive national debate, I have been advised, and I am compelled to conclude that many months and perhaps more years will have to pass before Richard Nixon could obtain a fair trial by jury in any jurisdiction of the United States under governing decisions of the Supreme Court.
I deeply believe in equal justice for all Americans, whatever their station or former station. The law, whether human or divine, is no respecter of persons; but the law is a respecter of reality.
The facts, as I see them, are that a former President of the United States, instead of enjoying equal treatment with any other citizen accused of violating the law, would be cruelly and excessively penalized either in preserving the presumption of his innocence or in obtaining a speedy determination of his guilt in order to repay a legal debt to society.
During this long period of delay and potential litigation, ugly passions would again be aroused. And our people would again be polarized in their opinions. And the credibility of our free institutions of government would again be challenged at home and abroad.
In the end, the courts might well hold that Richard Nixon had been denied due process, and the verdict of history would even more be inconclusive with respect to those charges arising out of the period of his Presidency, of which I am presently aware.
But it is not the ultimate fate of Richard Nixon that most concerns me, though surely it deeply troubles every decent:and every compassionate person. My concern is the immediate future of this great country.
In this, I dare not depend upon my personal sympathy as a long-time friend of the former President, nor my professional judgment as a lawyer, and I do not.
As President, my primary concern must always be the greatest good of all the people of the United States whose servant I am. As a man, my first consideration is to be true to my own convictions and my own conscience.
My conscience tells me clearly and certainly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that continue to reopen a chapter that is closed. My conscience tells me that only I, as President, have the constitutional power to firmly shut and seal this book. My conscience tells me it is my duty, not merely to proclaim domestic tranquillity but to use every means that I have to insure it. I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right. I do believe that right makes might and that if I am wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference. I do believe, with all my heart and mind and spirit, that I, not as President but as a humble servant of God, will receive justice without mercy if I fail to show mercy.
Finally, I feel that Richard Nixon and his loved ones have suffered enough and will continue to suffer, no matter what I do, no matter what we, as a great and good nation, can do together to make his goal of peace come true.
Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from July (January) 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and ninety-ninth.
When was Watergate complex created?
Us president Nixon was trying to get information about the democrat.
Why was the Watergate scandal controversial?
The Watergate Scandal was a threat to the Checks and Balances and Separation of Powers written into the Constitution. No branch, or elected official, or governmental worker is above the law. It turned out that the arrest of five men on 17 June 1972 who were trying to install electronic listening devices in the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC was just one of several surreptitious activities sponsored by the Nixon Administration. Nixon’s aides had also engineered the burglary of a Los Angeles psychiatrist’s office to try and obtain damaging information about Daniel Ellsberg, a Defense Department employee who leaked the Pentagon Papers, revealing the activities of the administration regarding Vietnam. The press and public began to view Nixon’s administration and activities as “the Imperial Presidency” because Nixon and his advisors became so arrogant in their possession of power. They seemed to believe they were above the law. Nixon even went so far as to claim that if something was done by the president, that means it was not illegal. The public began to distrust the power that had been amassed in the office of the Executive. The separation of powers did not seem to be working as designed by the Founding Fathers. Others saw the resignation of the president of confirmation that the Constitution was working, and even the President was not above the law. The Watergate Affair also served as a civics lesson to the public. Many began to pay close attention to their representatives and to begin to question the leaders in Washington and in local and state offices. An immediate effect was a closer examination of the activities of the executive office by the legislative and judicial branches.
How did people feel after Watergate scandal?
Cannot trust the Political people working in the government
What were the Names of watergate seven?
The Watergate Seven was a group of men involved in the scandal who were advisors and aides to President Nixon. The members were indicted by a grand jury on March 1, 1974.
President Richard M. Nixon was named by the jury as a co-conspirator, but was not indicted. This marked the first time in U.S. history for a president to be labeled by this term.
Why didn't Nixon serve time for his involvement in Watergate?
Richard Nixon became very ill during the time of the trial. So, the judge rendered a decision to not go further with the trial.
Why did Nixon resign from Watergate in 1974?
well back then chinese fish won karate championships, therefore apples are NOT pancakes in the space shuttles and riding traffic cones into british fighter jets on your 3rd birthday in a row. If this is a little bit complicated just ask Shrek for guidness, he'll go ogre all of this with you.
What did the Watergate burglars want?
They wanted to find evidence that the democrats had that Nixon was involved in the Kennedy Assassination
Would an ADT sign discourage burglars even if you dont have the security service?
An ADT Sign may discourage burglars, however if they decide to "check" if you actually have the alarm system, you will be out of luck. An alarm company sign can be a deterrent compared to a home/business that doesn't have one. Just remember common sense precautions as well to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of crime. Lock your doors, close and lock windows, keep your garage door closed, install a motion detecting light outside.
Briefly describe the Watergate scandal and how the white house reacted to it?
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal in the United States in the 1970s, resulting from the break-in into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Effects of the scandal ultimately led to the resignation of the United States President Richard Nixon on August 9, 1974. In June of 1972 in Washington, D.C. an event occurred, a burglary, which ended up holding worldwide importance. It was on this date that five people broke into the Democratic National Headquarters to bug their telephones. These men were members of the 'Plumbers', a group of anti-Castro Cuban refugees, former FBI agents and former CIA agents among others. The group was strongly Republican. The place they broke into was The Watergate Hotel. Many people remember the name Watergate as a blanket term used to describe the fall of President Richard Nixon.
Well, a great many things, but he stood up in front of the cameras and famously denied everything about the Watergate scandal and said "I am not a crook!" And then the tapes proved he ordered the break-in and in fact WAS a crook.
Nixon was a little before my time, but my understanding is that he wasn't a terrible president aside from the big scandal. He wasn't great or anything, but if not for Watergate he most likely would have been remembered as an average to above average president. Closing the gold window was idiotic, but he founded the EPA, made the gestures to China that opened them to trade with the west, and did a great many other things. Like I said - mixed bag.
But he's only remembered for Watergate.
Burglars broke into the Watergate complex intending to?
The Watergate burglars were caught attempting to place listening devices or "bugs" in the offices of the Democratic National Committee located in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. The burglary was instigated by the Republican Party to gain an advantage in the upcoming elections.
How did the Watergate affair happen?
President Nixon didn't just want to win the 1972 presidential election, but he wanted to win it big. He paid burglars to break into the Democratic Headquaters to get information so he could win the re-election. Basically, Watergate happened because Nixon wanted to win so badly that he cheated.
Who broke the story of the Watergate break-in?
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were the Washington Post reporters who broke this story.
What was the most incriminating aspect of the white house tapes?
The instructions to G. Gordon Liddy on the break in of the Democratic offices at the Watergate by Nixon.
In the Watergate Scandal what was the real name of 'Deep Throat'?
"Deep Throat" was the source of information for young Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who turned the Watergate scandal national in 1972.
It was not until nearly 33 years later (2005) that his identity was confirmed as Mark Felt, an associate director of the FBI (William Mark Felt, Sr. 1913-2008).
How did Nixon try to insulate himself from the Watergate story?
Anyone who knew anything about the Watergate scandal was involved, and if anyone was caught with any knowledge, it would not only jeapodize Nixon's presidency, but also mean jail time for anyone involved.
