The Watergate Scandal: Timeline and Background

WatchMojo.com

10 Jan 201205:52

Summary

TLDRThe Watergate scandal, one of the most significant political scandals in U.S. history, began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in 1972. The Nixon administration's involvement in the subsequent cover-up, including illegal surveillance and obstruction of justice, was exposed by investigative journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Revelations of Nixon's knowledge of the cover-up and the infamous 'smoking gun' tape led to his resignation in 1974, marking the first resignation of a U.S. president and a lasting impact on American politics.

Takeaways

🏛️ The Watergate scandal is considered one of the biggest political scandals in American history.
😠 The Nixon administration's initial reaction to the Pentagon Papers was to form a covert group to prevent further leaks, known as the White House Plumbers.
📋 Nixon's political rivals were targeted through surveillance, tax audits, and legal actions, as part of an enemies list.
🔍 The Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP) engaged in questionable and illegal activities, including a slush fund for information gathering on Democrats.
🤫 The plan to bug the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate hotel led to the infamous break-ins.
👮‍♂️ On June 17, 1972, five burglars were arrested during the second break-in, which eventually linked back to the White House Plumbers.
📰 Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, with the help of 'Deep Throat,' played a crucial role in unraveling the scandal.
📉 Despite the scandal, Nixon was re-elected in a landslide victory in November 1972.
🔗 The scandal expanded as more administration figures were implicated, leading to the indictment of key aides and the official investigations by Senator Sam Ervin and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox.
🎥 The revelation of Nixon's secret White House recording system and the subsequent 'smoking gun' tape confirmed his knowledge of the cover-up.
🚫 Nixon's refusal to release the tapes led to the 'Saturday Night Massacre,' where he dismissed the Attorney General and Special Prosecutor Cox, causing public outcry.
🏆 The scandal resulted in multiple arrests, new laws, a renewed interest in investigative journalism, and the first resignation of a U.S. President.

Q & A

What is the Watergate scandal?
-The Watergate scandal refers to a series of political events in the United States during the early 1970s, which led to the discovery of illegal activities by the Nixon administration, including wiretapping, break-ins, and a subsequent cover-up that ultimately resulted in President Nixon's resignation.
What were the Pentagon Papers and why were they significant?
-The Pentagon Papers were a top-secret study of U.S. government decision-making during the Vietnam War that were leaked in 1971. They revealed that administrations from Truman to Johnson had intentionally misled the public about the war's progress and scope, which led to a loss of trust in the government and heightened the climate of distrust that contributed to the Watergate scandal.
Who were the White House Plumbers and what was their purpose?
-The White House Plumbers were a covert group formed by Nixon's adviser John Ehrlichman, which included former CIA agent E. Howard Hunt and former FBI agent G. Gordon Liddy. Their purpose was to stop leaks of classified information, but they also engaged in illegal activities such as wiretapping and breaking into the offices of political opponents.
What was Nixon's Enemies List and how was it used?
-Nixon's Enemies List was a compilation of individuals, including politicians, journalists, and Hollywood actors, who were perceived as political threats to President Nixon. The administration used various tactics such as tax audits, legal action, and harassment to intimidate and discredit those on the list.
What was the Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP) and its role in the scandal?
-The Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP) was formed to support Nixon's re-election campaign in 1972. John Mitchell, who stepped down as Attorney General to chair the committee, was involved in questionable and illegal activities, including maintaining a slush fund for information gathering on Democrats and approving plans for the Watergate break-in.
What happened on June 17, 1972, that was pivotal to the Watergate scandal?
-On June 17, 1972, five burglars were arrested at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel during a break-in aimed at bugging the offices and stealing information. This event marked the beginning of the unraveling of the Watergate scandal.
Who were Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and what was their contribution to the Watergate scandal?
-Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were investigative journalists for The Washington Post who reported on the connections between the Watergate break-in and the Nixon administration. Their work, supported by an anonymous source known as 'Deep Throat,' was instrumental in uncovering the scandal and implicating various government agencies.
Who was 'Deep Throat,' and what role did this person play in the Watergate investigation?
-'Deep Throat' was the pseudonym used for Mark Felt, the former Deputy Director of the FBI. He provided crucial information to Woodward and Bernstein, helping them to connect the Watergate break-in to the Nixon administration and to expose the cover-up.
What was the significance of the 'smoking gun' tape in the Watergate scandal?
-The 'smoking gun' tape was a White House recording that revealed President Nixon had knowledge of the Watergate cover-up since mid-1972. This evidence was critical in proving Nixon's involvement and ultimately led to his resignation.
What was the Saturday Night Massacre, and how did it impact public opinion of the Nixon administration?
-The Saturday Night Massacre occurred when President Nixon dismissed the Attorney General, his Deputy, and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, who were pursuing the investigation into the Watergate scandal. This move was seen as an attempt to obstruct justice and led to widespread public outcry and a further erosion of trust in the Nixon administration.
What were the consequences of the Watergate scandal for President Nixon and the U.S. political landscape?
-The Watergate scandal led to President Nixon's resignation on August 8, 1974, to avoid impeachment. It also resulted in multiple arrests, the creation of new laws to prevent similar abuses of power, and a renewed interest in investigative journalism. The scandal had a profound and lasting impact on American politics.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Watergate Scandal Unveiled

The Watergate scandal, one of the biggest political scandals in American history, began with the leak of the Pentagon Papers in 1971. This report revealed that multiple administrations had misled the public about the Vietnam War. In response, President Nixon's administration formed a covert group to prevent further leaks. This group, known as the 'White House Plumbers,' included former CIA and FBI agents. Nixon's administration targeted his political enemies, including politicians, journalists, and Hollywood actors, through various means like tax audits and legal actions. The scandal escalated when the Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP), led by former Attorney General John Mitchell, used illegal tactics to secure Nixon's re-election, culminating in the infamous break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel on June 17, 1972.

05:02

🔍 Uncovering the Watergate Break-In and Cover-Up

Following the Watergate break-in, the FBI quickly connected the burglars to the White House. Despite Nixon's administration denying involvement, evidence began to emerge linking the break-in to the Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP) and high-level officials. Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein played a crucial role in unraveling the case, with the help of their anonymous source 'Deep Throat,' later revealed to be FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt. The investigation implicated key figures within the administration, leading to a series of resignations and indictments. In a bid to protect himself, Nixon refused to release subpoenaed tapes, citing executive privilege, and even dismissed high-ranking officials in the infamous 'Saturday Night Massacre.' Despite his denials, the evidence mounted, leading to Nixon's resignation on August 8, 1974, and his subsequent pardon by President Gerald Ford.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Watergate Scandal

The Watergate Scandal refers to a major political conspiracy and cover-up during the Nixon administration in the United States. It is central to the video's theme as it details the events that led to the scandal, including the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up attempts by the Nixon administration. The term is repeatedly mentioned throughout the script, highlighting its significance in American political history.

💡Pentagon Papers

The Pentagon Papers were a top-secret study of U.S. government decision-making during the Vietnam War. In the context of the video, the leak of these papers led to public distrust and was a precursor to the Nixon administration's formation of the 'White House Plumbers', which was a covert group aimed at preventing further leaks, setting the stage for the Watergate events.

💡White House Plumbers

The 'White House Plumbers' was a covert operation formed by Nixon's adviser John Ehrlichman, including individuals like E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy. Their role was to stop leaks and was a direct link to the Watergate break-in, illustrating the administration's involvement in illegal activities, which is a key point in the video's narrative.

💡Nixon's Enemies List

The 'Nixon's Enemies List' was a compilation of individuals whom President Nixon and his administration considered political adversaries. The list included politicians, journalists, and even Hollywood actors who were subject to harassment by the administration. This concept is used in the script to show the extent of Nixon's attempts to silence opposition, which ties into the broader theme of political corruption.

💡Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP)

The CRP, or Committee for the Re-election of the President, was established to secure Nixon's re-election in 1972. John Mitchell, who stepped down as Attorney General to chair the committee, was involved in questionable and illegal activities, such as maintaining a slush fund for gathering information on Democrats. The CRP's actions are integral to the Watergate Scandal and are repeatedly referenced in the script.

💡Bugging

Bugging, in the context of the video, refers to the illegal act of planting surveillance devices to eavesdrop on conversations. The script mentions a plan to bug and steal information from the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel, which was a pivotal event leading to the scandal's exposure.

💡FBI Investigation

The 'FBI Investigation' mentioned in the script refers to the federal agency's efforts to uncover the truth behind the Watergate break-in. The investigation was obstructed by Nixon's order to the CIA to halt further inquiries, which is a critical example of the cover-up efforts discussed in the video.

💡Deep Throat

Deep Throat, revealed in 2005 to be former FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt, was the pseudonym for the high-level informant who provided crucial information to Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. This anonymous source was vital in unraveling the Watergate case and is a key element in the video's exploration of investigative journalism.

💡Saturday Night Massacre

The 'Saturday Night Massacre' refers to the event in which Nixon dismissed the Attorney General, his deputy, and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, in an attempt to end the investigation into the Watergate Scandal. This term is used in the script to illustrate the extent of Nixon's obstruction of justice and the impact on public perception.

💡Executive Privilege

Executive Privilege is the concept of confidentiality of presidential communications, which Nixon cited as the reason for refusing to release the White House tapes. The script discusses this principle and its significance in the context of the Watergate investigation, highlighting the tension between transparency and the protection of presidential confidentiality.

💡Smoking Gun Tape

The 'Smoking Gun Tape' is a term used in the script to describe a specific recording that provided evidence that Nixon knew about the cover-up of the Watergate break-in since mid-1972. This tape was crucial in implicating Nixon directly and led to his eventual resignation, making it a central piece of evidence in the scandal.

Highlights

The Watergate scandal was one of the biggest political scandals in American history.

The Nixon administration formed a covert group called the White House Plumbers to halt leaks after the Pentagon Papers were leaked.

Nixon's political rivals were recorded on an 'enemies list' and were harassed by the administration.

The Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP) used questionable and illegal means, including a slush fund for information gathering on Democrats.

A plan was approved to bug and steal information from the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel.

Five burglars were arrested during the second break-in at the Watergate Hotel on June 17, 1972.

The FBI quickly linked the arrested burglars to E. Howard Hunt, who had connections to the White House Plumbers.

Nixon ordered his chief of staff to instruct the CIA to block further FBI investigation into the Watergate break-in.

Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein reported on the Hunt connection with confirmation from their anonymous source, Deep Throat.

Deep Throat, later revealed to be former FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt, was instrumental in unraveling the Watergate case.

By September 1972, the burglars, Hunt, and Liddy were indicted by a grand jury despite connections to the scandal.

In April 1973, four top Nixon aides lost their jobs due to their involvement in the cover-up.

Official investigations led by Senator Sam Ervin and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox proved the connection between the burglary and the White House and CRP.

Nixon assistant Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of Nixon-installed recording devices throughout the White House.

Nixon refused to release the subpoenaed tapes, citing executive privilege.

The 'Saturday Night Massacre' occurred when Nixon dismissed the Attorney General, his deputy, and Cox.

In November 1973, Nixon declared in a speech that he was not a crook and had earned everything he had.

The Watergate tapes were finally released in July 1974, with an 18-minute erased section proving controversial.

The 'smoking gun' tape undeniably proved Nixon knew about the cover-up since mid-1972.

Nixon was forced to resign or face impeachment, and did so on August 8, 1974.

Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon exactly one month after taking office following Nixon's resignation.

The Watergate scandal resulted in multiple arrests, the creation of new laws, renewed interest in investigative journalism, and the first resignation of a U.S. president.

The Watergate scandal undoubtedly changed American politics forever.