Watergate: Nixon's Downfall

1. How were the "plumbers" connected to President Nixon?

They were Nixon's inner circle of advisers.

2. Who was the judge? Why did he hand out maximum sentences?
The trial's presiding judge was John Sirica. He handed out maximum sentences because he wanted to prove that no one could be above the law.

3. How were Mitchell and Dean connected to Nixon?
Mitchell was Nixon's former attorney general and resigned to run Nixon's reelection campaign and was director of the Committee to Reelect the President (CPR). Dean was Nixon's presidential counsel. They were highly trusted by Nixon in that he helped direct White House policy and they played a key role in Nixon's 1968 election victory. They also shared in Nixon's need for secrecy and the consolidation of power.

4. How were Haldeman and Erlichman connected to Nixon?
Haldeman was Nixon's White House chief of staff, while Erlichman was Nixon's chief domestic adviser. They also played key roles in Nixon's 1968 election victory and then helped the president direct White House policy. They also shared in Nixon's need for secrecy and the consolidation of power.

5. What did the following men tell the Senate about Nixon?

a. Dean

In late June, Dean testified that the former White House counsel declared the President Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up of the break-in of Watergate. He backed this up by declaring that he himself was involved in a meeting in which the president and several adviser discussed strategies for continuing the deceit.

b. Butterfield

Butterfield was Nixon's presidential aide who revealed the Nixon had taped virtually all of his presidential conversations. He later claimed the the taping system was installed "to help Nixon write his memoirs". The Senate used these tapes for the purpose of revealing what Nixon knew and when he knew.

6. Who was fired or forced to resign in the "massacre"?
In the Saturday Night Massacre, Attorney General, Richardson refused to fire Coz and resigned. Then, the deputy attorney general also refused to fire Cox and was fired himself. Next in line, Solicitor General Robert Bork finally fired Cox.

7. Why weren't investigators satisified with the transcripts?
Nixon released edited transcripts of White House conversations about Watergate. Investigators demanded the unedited tapes.

8. What did the tapes reveal?
The tapes contained many gaps including one which contained an 18 1/2- minute gap which was a conversation between President Nixon and H. R. Haldemen. Supposedly it was accidentally erased by President Nixon's secretary, Rose Mary Woods. More importantly one tape dated six days after the Watergate break-in, contained information revealing that the president had known about the role of members of his administration in the burglary and he agreed to the plan to obstruct the FBI's investigation.

9. Why did Vice President Spiro Agnew resign?
Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned after it was revealed that he accepted bribes from engineering firms while being governor of Maryland.

10. What did the House Judiciary Committee charge President Nixon with?
The House Judiciary Committee charged President Nixon with obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress for refusing to obey congressional subpoena to release the tapes.

11. How did the Watergate scandal create a constitutional crisis?

The Watergate scandal revealed that trusted leaders who were supposed to be abiding by the Constitution and taking action in the country's best interest were not doing so. The executive branch had taken on an air of imperial authority over the other branches, making it the most powerful branch or government. Nixon's inner circle also shared his desire for secrecy and the consolidation of power. They believed they were somewhat above the law. It is not possible to be above the law because he Constitution gives everyone equal rights, making no one greater than another, or being above the law allowing them to break the law and not pay consequences. These men believed they could do exactly so but in reality they couldn't and had to be stopped. This is how the Watergate scandal created a constitutional crisis.