The Nixon Years

1
The Nixon Years

• Chapter 33

2
Nixon Wins 68

• Promised to end the war in Vietnam to bring the
  American people together again.
• Staunch fighter of communism since 40s
• Private, closed person
• Organized White House staff like military
• Power consolidated to a few trusted aids

3
Happy Note . .. July 20, 1969

• Apollo 11
• Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins
• The Eagle has landed
• One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind

4
Meanwhile . . . Nam Grows

• Wants to negotiate a peace treaty but doesnt
  want to face disgrace
• Instead, invades Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh trail
  to stop supply chain 69
• But, he withdraws US troops
• Vietnamization of War
• Kent State 4 students killed in protest
• Congress-no more Gulf Tonkin Resolution

5
Finally, the End. . . 73

• US and SV invade Laos 71
• Secret peace talks are taking place in Paris
• Congress insists soldiers must be removed after
  POWs are released
• To demonstrate our intent to both NV and SV, US
  initiated Christmas Bombings72
• Cease fire accord 73

6
A Nixon Highlight

• 72- momentous visit of US President to Communist
  Mainland China
• Henry Kissinger, Sec of State, normalized
  relations
• Support trade, UN membership, diplomatic relations

7
Another Nixon Highlight

• Cant play favorites so need to visit Moscow
• w/ Leonid Brezhnev
• Main focus was SALT agreements

8
Nixons Decline Begins

• Private, secretive person
• Stung by campaign losses to JFK, California
  Governor
• Anything was OK except what the referee sees and
  blows the whistle on
• Used the threat of an audit with IRS to harass
  his enemies

9
The Plumbers

• Pentagon Papers are published by NYT which is to
  reveal secrets about US involvement in Vietnam
  from 60s despite lawsuit by government
• Daniel Ellsberg, an author, gives to NYT
• Nixons personal PIs (Plumbers) hope to get dirt
  on Ellsberg by breaking into his shrinks office
  in Los Angeles

10
1972 Election. . . Uh, Oh

• Nixon tries to help pick the weakest opponent
  by sending out misinformation, publishing false
  leaflets and brochures, giving money to stronger
  candidates campaign
• Campaign mgrs agree to bug Dem National
  Committee HQ in Watergate office Building
• Plumbers are caught!

11
Nixon didnt know. . . At first

• Nixon did not know about bugging plan but once
  the Plumbers were caught, he became embroiled in
  the cover up
• Nixon orders CIA to stop FBI from investigating
  the break in for national security reasons
• Pay the Plumbers hush money
• 2 Washington Post reporters, Woodward and
  Bernstein dont let it go

12
The Cover Up Deepens

• Nixon lies about knowing of cover ups
• Desperate because his trusted aids are indicted
  and will be asked to testify
• Nixon fires his trusted aids, appoints a new Atty
  Gen to investigate
• Hearings held and trusted aids must all testify
  a low level clerk reveals that all conversations
  in White House are recorded for
  posterity-Nixons Library

13
The Noose is Tightening

• Hearings on every day, all day
• All sorts of shenanigans are revealed
• Ct of Appeals orders Nixon to turn over tapes
• Agnew, VP, resigns Income Tax Evasion for
  kickbacks on govt contracts as Gov Md
• Gerald Ford nominated by Nixon under 25th
  Amendment clause

14
Deep Doo Doo

• Instead of producing tapes, Nixon offers
  summaries and ordered Special Prosecutor to
  cease asking for tapes
• Cox refuses summaries and Nixon wants him fired
  tells Atty Gen Richardson to can Cox he
  refuses and resigns
• Dep Atty Gen then asked to fire Cox he resigns
• Solicitor Gen finally fires Cox Saturday Night
  Massacre

15
Deeper Doo Doo

• Now, House of Reps looks to impeach (House must
  impeach, Senate must hold hearings/trial to
  confirm impeachment)
• Nixon also has financial investigation of low
  taxes and domestic security expenses
• 74 Nixon aides are indicted cover up.
  Perjury, obstructing justice
• Still no tapes, transcripts reveal potty mouth

16
Sooo Deep . . Nixon Bails

• In July 74, Nixon is impeached on 3 counts
  cover-up and obstruction of justice, abuse of
  power w/CIA, FBI etc, didnt abide by legal
  subpoenas
• Doggedly, tapes must be produced Nixon
  apologizes about discrepancies
• Sec Defense issues order to generals not to
  accept Pres order unless co-signed by him
• Nixon finally resigns when no support is there