Watergate
In June of 1972 an event occurred that changed the course of history. On June 12,1972 there was a break-in at the Watergate Hotel. When the police arrived they found 5men equipped with electronic bugging devices and burglary tools at the headquarters forthe Democratic National Convention. Two of the individuals were James McCord and G.Gordon Liddy, both members of the committee to re-elect the president. A third suspectwas E. Howard Hunt, a former CIA agent and White House aide. When the news broke President Nixon claimed that no one in the White House hadany prior knowledge to the burglary. The break-in was part of an elaborate plan byCREEP to sabotage Nixon's opposition for re-election. A week after the break in Nixonagreed to cover up the White House's involvement in the break in. Nixon claimed thatany further investigation of the scandal was a threat to national security and needed to
plan seemed to work until early 1973 when the trial for theWatergate break-in began. He informed the committed of a setof tapes that were made in the Oval Office that would implicate Nixon's involvement inthe scandal. On July 30, 1974 the committee voted on 3 articles of impeachment. By April 30, 1973 Nixon was under extreme pressure and announced to America theresignation of his key advisors and legal consul. On that Saturdaynight the solicitor general carried out Nixon's wishes and fired Cox. With the threat ofImpeachment looming Nixon turned over the tapes. The trial wastelevised and the American public was able to see the political sabotage and deception thatwas carried out by the White House. The SenateWatergate Hearings began, and they were led by Senator Sam Ervin. The Watergate trial was brief, 5 of the defendant plead guilty and the other 2 wereconvicted by the jury. This only made things worse for him Once the trial began his involvement in thecover up became greater, and involved blackmailing by those who were on trial for thebreak-in. On May 22, 1973 Nixon came before theAmerican public and told of his involvement in the wiretapping and how he had helpedestablish the Intelligence Unit to protect any threat to national security. Before Judge Sircia sentenced the defendants there was a letterwritten by McCord read to the court that implicated that higher ups in the White HouseAdministration had prior knowledge of the burglary and had committed perjury. Nixon'scover up was beginning to come apart and he told the American public that he had noprior knowledge of the break in or the cover up that followed until March 21, which was alie. On October 20 ofthat year Cox again demanded the tapes and was prepared to get a court order for Nixonto turn them over. Nixon had his chance to come clean at this time, but he chosenot to.
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