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Nixon and Watergate
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A burglary in 1972 grew into a scandal that forced the President of the United States to resign.
The break-in and cover-up
On 17 June 1972 five men were caught breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate building in Washington.
They were linked to Nixon's re-election committee.
Nixon and his aides tried to cover up the link. Journalists Woodward and Bernstein of the Washington Post kept investigating.
They were linked to Nixon's re-election committee.
Nixon and his aides tried to cover up the link. Journalists Woodward and Bernstein of the Washington Post kept investigating.
The tapes and resignation
A Senate committee learned that Nixon secretly taped conversations in the White House.
Nixon fought to keep the tapes; in July 1974 the Supreme Court ordered him to hand them over. They proved he had joined the cover-up.
Facing impeachment, Nixon resigned on 9 August 1974. Gerald Ford became President and pardoned Nixon a month later.
Nixon fought to keep the tapes; in July 1974 the Supreme Court ordered him to hand them over. They proved he had joined the cover-up.
Facing impeachment, Nixon resigned on 9 August 1974. Gerald Ford became President and pardoned Nixon a month later.
Consequences
Trust in government fell.
Congress acted to limit presidential power: the War Powers Act (1973) limited a president's power to send troops into combat; the Congressional Budget Control Act (1974); the Privacy Act (1974); and the Election Campaign Act (1974), which limited election donations and spending.
Congress acted to limit presidential power: the War Powers Act (1973) limited a president's power to send troops into combat; the Congressional Budget Control Act (1974); the Privacy Act (1974); and the Election Campaign Act (1974), which limited election donations and spending.
Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act in 1973?
- Presidents had sent troops into Vietnam and Cambodia without a declaration of war.
- Watergate increased distrust of presidential power.
- So Congress wanted a say over sending troops into combat.
Answer: To limit the President's power to wage war without Congress.
Watergate break-in (June 1972), cover-up exposed by Woodward and Bernstein. The White House tapes, released after a Supreme Court order (July 1974), proved Nixon's guilt. He resigned on 9 August 1974; Ford pardoned him. Congress passed the War Powers Act (1973) and 1974 laws on budgets, privacy and elections.
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