Watergate: The Political Scandal That Brought Down a US President

Intro

‘In this Bitesize episode, we’re going to talk about the  . The series of events that had led to his resignation changed US politics forever, shattering public trust in the government, with Americans becoming deeply disillusioned with their political leaders and institutions and leading to a prolonged period of cynicism and scepticism. I am of course talking about the Watergate Scandal, which became the OG scandal. It was the scandal that launched a thousand ‘-gates’— Emailgate, Partygate, Popcorngate, pretty-much-anything-gate, proving that when it comes to controversy, we just can’t resist sticking a gate on the end.

‘On 17 June 1972, five sneaky burglars broke into the Democratic National Convention in the Watergate Office Building in Washington D.C.. Little did they know, they were about to star in the biggest political drama since Hamilton. And guess what? They were Nixon’s own campaign cronies! Nixon’s attempt at a cover-up was about as effective as trying to hide an elephant in a paddling pool—spectacularly doomed from the start and sealing his downfall despite his famous declaration in the midst of the scandal: ‘I am not a crook!'”

Background

‘It’s important to remember the context of this controversy. In 1972, there would be a presidential election in the United States and the incumbent Republican president Richard Nixon was coming to the end of his first term and was seeking re-election. The US was extremely divided, mostly because of the Vietnam War but also for other reasons such as the Civil Rights Movements and social changes, and this all added up to an extremely hostile political climate at the time.

‘Americans were also extremely divided between those who supported Richard Nixon and those who didn’t. Nixon had first been Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Vice President from 1953 until 1961, and when he became President in 1969, many of his policies such as the Vietnam War, the war on drugs, conservative positions on social issues and contentious relationships with the press were very divisive.’

Break in and arrest

‘In order to try and secure re-election in 1972, Nixon and his top team created the “Committee to Re-Elect the President”, or CRP, and sometimes referred to jokingly as CREEP. CREEP decided to play dirty. In May that year, members of his campaign team broke into the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate building in Washington D.C.. They stole sensitive documents and tapped phones in order to monitor conversations. The burglars had been tasked with gathering information and intelligence on the Democratic Party’s strategies and activities, as well as sabotaging the DNC’s efforts to support Nixon’s opponent. However, the wire taps failed to work properly.

‘The burglars therefore had to go back, and they did so a month later on 17 June. However, while they were in the building, a security guard noticed tape on the door locks, which the burglars had done to ensure the doors wouldn’t lock behind them if they were to close. The security guard called the police and the five burglars were caught red-handed. They were all then taken in for questioning by the police. They faced criminal charges for attempting burglary and intercepting telephone and other communications. The day following the burglary, The Washington Post detailed police findings, which included lock-picks, door jimmies, nearly $2,300 in mostly sequential $100 bills, a shortwave receiver capable of picking up police calls, 40 rolls of undeveloped film, two 35-millimetre cameras, and three tear gas guns resembling pens. Subsequently, The Post revised the cash amount to $5,300.’

‘During questioning, the burglars insisted that they were working alone and they were not in any way connected to Nixon’s campaign team. However, suspicions were raised when police found the White House telephone number of someone called E. Howard Hunt. Now Hunt was a former intelligence officer who now worked in the Nixon administration. A few months later, he and another White House staffer G. Gordon Liddy were arrested by the FBI on federal charges relating to the Watergate investigation. Both of these men had been members of CREEP. They and the five burglars became known as the “Watergate Seven.”

Cover up

‘In August 1972, after pressure from the press, his sworn enemy, Nixon gave a speech where he swore that he hadn’t been involved in the Watergate break in. Despite Nixon’s claims of innocence, evidence surfaced linking members of his administration to the burglary and wiretapping efforts. Reports emerged connecting one of the burglars to the Republican Party, while investigations uncovered financial ties between the burglars and Nixon’s CREEP. Despite these revelations, Nixon managed to secure a landslide victory in the presidential election later that year  in November 1972.

‘Nixon’s aides sought to shield him by persuading the Watergate burglars to plead guilty. However, investigative journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein persisted in their pursuit of the truth, unearthing critical details. During pre-trial hearings, cracks began to appear within the defence of the Watergate Seven. Additionally, John Mitchell, head of the CREEP and former attorney general, denied any involvement or knowledge of the burglars, further complicating the narrative. As investigations progressed, Nixon made a fatal error by involving the CIA in obstructing the FBI’s inquiry—an egregious abuse of power that would escalate the controversy into a full-fledged scandal.

‘A secret informant, later revealed as Mark Felt, the Deputy Director of the FBI, provided pivotal information to Woodward, including Howard Hunt’s role and the White House’s complicity. Their secret meetings in a parking garage from June 1972 to January 1973 unveiled Nixon’s attempts to cover up his role in the scandal, including obstructing justice. The investigation swiftly expanded beyond the convictions of the burglars. When a letter alleging perjury reached the judge, it led to further action, intensifying the scrutiny on the White House. Despite Nixon’s efforts to deflect blame and deny White House involvement, his aides eventually began implicating each other, deepening the crisis. One aide revealed that Nixon had secretly recorded all conversations he had had in the Oval Office, and this marked a turning point, triggering the resignations of top aides and the Attorney General. After this bombshell revelation, Nixon slowly started to lose control of the narrative.’

The tapes

‘After the revelation of the tapes, in February 1973 the US Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 60, creating a select committee to investigate the Watergate scandal. This bipartisan decision reflected growing concerns about the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and its potential connection to the Nixon administration. The next day, Senator Sam Ervin was appointed as the committee chairman, signalling a commitment to a thorough investigation.

‘The formation of this committee was a significant moment in American politics, showing bipartisan acknowledgment of the need for transparency and accountability. It came amidst mounting public pressure and media coverage of Watergate. The American public was troubled by revelations suggesting that the Watergate break-in was part of a broader pattern of political corruption. Calls for a comprehensive inquiry grew louder, leading to the establishment of the select committee.

‘The Senate hearings, which began in May 1973, and ended in November of the same year, were televised and captivated the nation. Led by Chairman Sam Ervin, the hearings featured testimonies from key witnesses. Obtaining these tapes became crucial to proving Nixon’s guilt. Nixon’s attempt to invoke executive privilege to withhold the tapes led to a standoff known as the Saturday Night Massacre on 20 October 1973, where Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, causing resignations within the Justice Department, including Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus.’ 

Cover up unravels

‘In early 1974, as the Watergate cover-up began to unravel, a grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted seven Nixon aides for their roles in hindering the Watergate investigation. The grand jury secretly named Nixon as an unindicted co-conspirator, implicating him in the conspiracy to obstruct justice. These indictments marked a significant escalation in the legal proceedings surrounding the Watergate scandal, as they directly implicated high-ranking officials within the Nixon administration. The designation of Nixon as an unindicted co-conspirator underscored the gravity of the situation and raised questions about the extent of the president’s involvement in the cover-up. This development intensified pressure on Nixon and further eroded public confidence in his administration.

‘In April, in order to try and get on the front foot, Nixon released edited versions of the Oval Office tapes he had recorded. He hoped this would mitigate any further damage to his reputation. But he was wrong.

‘In July, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in United States v. Nixon, ordering President Nixon to turn over the subpoenaed tapes to the special prosecutor, Archibald Cox. This landmark decision dealt a significant blow to Nixon’s attempt to withhold evidence under claims of executive privilege and marked a pivotal moment in the Watergate scandal. Shortly after the Supreme Court’s ruling, the House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach Nixon on multiple charges, including obstruction of justice, abuse of power, criminal cover-up, and violations of the Constitution. The House Judiciary Committee voted to approve three articles of impeachment against President Nixon on 27 July 1974.

‘On the same day, the White House surrendered the subpoenaed tapes to Leon Jaworski, the Watergate special prosecutor, including the pivotal “smoking gun” tape from 23 June 1972, where Nixon and his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, discussed obstructing the FBI’s investigation into Watergate. Nixon had agreed to use the CIA to halt the probe, framing it as a national security issue. Jaworski interpreted this as Nixon’s involvement in a criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice. When the “smoking gun” tape was made public on 5 August, Nixon’s remaining political support eroded rapidly. Even the 10 Republican members of the Judiciary Committee, who had previously opposed impeachment, now pledged their support for it once the issue reached the House floor.’

Resignation

‘Nixon’s fate was sealed. Articles of impeachment were to be voted on by the House of Representatives, with them almost certain to pass. The Senate would have then almost certainly found the president guilty. Faced with the prospect of becoming the United States first president to be forced from office by impeachment, Nixon decided to jump before he was pushed. On 8 August 1974, Nixon announced his resignation to the nation in a televised address. Nixon spoke about the “crucial decisions” he faced and the need for putting the country’s interests first. He stated that he had never been a quitter and emphasised his love for America, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve. Nixon reflected on the tumultuous events of his presidency, including the Watergate scandal, acknowledging that he had made mistakes and regrets. 

‘He explained that the decision to resign was motivated by a desire to avoid further political divisiveness and to ensure the smooth functioning of the government. Nixon assured the public of a peaceful transition of power and pledged his support for President Gerald Ford, who would succeed him. He concluded his speech with an emotional farewell, expressing his hope for the future and urging Americans to unite behind their new leader for the greater good of the nation. The next day on 9 August at midday, Nixon officially resigned and left the White House for the last time with applause from his staff and a thumbs up. He is to this day, the only US president to resign from office.’

Legacy  

‘Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States. Ford made the controversial decision to pardon Nixon for any crimes he may have committed while in office. Despite Nixon’s departure, the legal fallout from the Watergate scandal continued. Several of Nixon’s top aides were convicted and sentenced to federal prison: Attorney General John Mitchell served 19 months, Watergate mastermind G. Gordon Liddy served four and a half years, Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman served 19 months, and John Ehrlichman served 18 months for attempting to cover up the break-in. 

‘Throughout the ordeal, Nixon never admitted to criminal wrongdoing but acknowledged lapses in judgement. However, his abuse of power significantly eroded public trust in government and fueled cynicism in American political life. This disillusionment compounded the national disappointment stemming from the Vietnam War and the assassinations of prominent leaders, further tarnishing Nixon’s legacy.’

Outro

‘What do you guys think? Did the Watergate Scandal destroy trust in politics in the USA forever? Or has it recovered somewhat? I would love to hear your thoughts. You can tweet me or send me a message on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. Links are in the show notes.

‘Thanks for joining us in discussing the world’s most infamous political scandal. I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know of any other political scandals that you would like me to cover! 

‘But that’s all for now. See you next time. Goodbye.’