Key Features: 1) Leaks - 13th June 1971 - New York Times - featured the first installment of the Pentagon Papers. These were classified documents leaked by Daniel Ellsberg a former security official.
2) The Plumbers - a secret Whitehouse group who were to stop future leaks. 1st July 1971 - Nixon’s concern recorded on tapes - ‘Those sons of bitches are killing me ... We’re up against an enemy, a conspiracy, they are using every means. We are going to use every means, is that clear?
3) CREEP - (campaign to reelect the president) set up to ensure Nixon’s election victory in 1972. One of it’s ideas was Operation Gemstone where prostitutes were to be paid to sleep with high ranking Democrats and then tell their stories.
4) Break in at the Water Gate building - Democrat Headquarters - at 2nd break in a security guard found black tape on the door. He called the police this led to 5 men being arrested.
5) Bernstein and Woodward journalists on the Washington Post paper revealed that Burglars were paid to steel info to discredit Nixon’s Democrat opponents.
6) Senate enquiry - April 1973 - A special committee was set up to investigate the affair. J.Dean Nixon’s lawyer changed sides.
7) ‘No whitewash at the White House’ - Nixon appeared on national television to assure the nation that he was not involved in a cover up.
8) Tapes - discovered that tapes of conversation at the White House existed.
9) Supreme Court - ordered tapes to be handed over - revealed that Nixon knew that senior staff had been involved in burglary and had ordered a cover up. He had misused presidential powers to block the investigation.
10) Impeachment - demands for president to resign.
11) Gerald Ford - 9pm 8August - Nixon announced his resignation. On 9th August Ford became 38th President. He started his inaugeration address with the words, ‘My fellow Americans, our long nightmare is over...’
