The Watergate Scandal

The Watergate Scandal

1. Who?

   • President Richard Nixon
     • The burglars which included Bernard Baker, Virgilio Gonzalez, Eugenio Martinez, Frank Sturgis, and James W McCord Jr
       • "The plumbers" who were to prevent any leaks of information to leave the others who were involved
         • The team included John Erlichman,E. Howard Hunt, and John Paisley.
     • Committee to Re-Elect the President (CRP)
       • Dozens of other White House staff members

2. Where?

   • The Watergate Hotel

3. What were the consequences?

   • The scandal led to investigation headed by the CIA, FBI, and the IRS
     • There was evidence found in the Oval Office of recorded conversations that the President had taped with out the knowledge of those who were recorded.
       • The American citizens were encouraging Congress to impeach the President.
         • Nixon had committed crimes against basic constitutional rights
           • He also lied and was not willing to cooperate with the investigation by withholding evidence and trying to fire government employees who were part of the investigation.

4. When?

   • June 17, 1972

5. Why was the President involved in the scandal?

   • President Nixon was paranoid that the other party was going to win over his re-election come November.
     • So he hired a team of five to wire-tap the phone lines of his Democratic opponents campaign office within the Watergate Hotel.
       • He was looking for any embarrassing or privileged information that he could find that would act as his 'hole in one' for winning re-election.

6. How were the burglars hired?

   • Nixon hired the men, who were a mix of retired CIA agents and military operatives.
     • The President paid the burglars with cash and his campaign committee also created a slush fund account for them.
       • A slush fund is a reserve of money that's used for illicit purposes, including political bribery.

7. Why was this important?

   • For the first time in american history, the President became a figure synonymous for untrustworthy.