United States v. Nixon

The Cover-up

1. Regardless of the outcome, should the President of the United States have a right to privacy in regards to the Oval Office tapes? Explain.

To an extent I believe that the Oval Office tapes should be private to the President. Something like Watergate was a threat to national security therefore the right to privacy with the Oval Office tapes should be taken away. However, when there is no threat to national security the tapes should remain private.

2. Was President Nixon justified when he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox? Explain.
No he was not because it was not in his jurisdiction and he crossed the line.

3. Was Nixon creating a Constitutional crisis by refusing to hand-over the tapes? Explain.
Deffinatley because he believed that he had immunity from the constitution by being president and presented imperial presidency.

Closure

4. Why do you think the American public was so outraged by Watergate?
Because it made the american public completely lose faith in the Nixon administration. Nixon was trying to cover up a government scandal which is one thing that people do not look for in their president.

5. Do you think President Nixon should have resigned? Explain.
I believe it was the best decision because it's more shameful to be impeached so at least he carried some dignity when he left. Also, Nixon wanted to go out with a bang so instead of taking the punishment he felt the need to add a twist.

6. Do you think President Nixon should have been prosecuted? Explain.
I don't think nixon should have been prosecuted because it was never proven whether he was directly involved in the Watergate break in or not.

Watergate: Nixon's Downfall

1. How ere the "plumbers" connected to President Nixon?
The plumbers were the actual Watergate Robbers who worked for Nixon, planting leaks in the press and digging up dirt on Nixon's opponents or people he just didn't like.


2. Who was the judge? Why did he hand out maximum sentences?
John Sirica was the judge. He handed out maximum sentences because he thought more people would talk if they were under pressure.


3. How were Mitchell and Dean connected to Nixon?
Mitchell was Nixon's former attorney general and John Dean was on the presidential council.

4. How were Haldeman and Erlichman connected to Nixon?
H.R Haldeman was the chief of staff at the white house while Ehrlichman was the chief domestic adviser.

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

a. Dean
Declared that Nixon had been heavily involved in the cover ups of the watergate burgleries.
Referred to a meeting where nixon discussed a plan to cover up the gov. involvement.
b. Butterfield
Told the senate that Nixon taped virtually all of his presidential conversations.

6. Who was fired or forced to resign in the "massacre"?
Elliot Richardson: forced to resign
Assistant attorney general was fired as was Archibald Cox.

7. Why weren't investigators satisified with the transcripts?
They were more interested in the unedited tapes of the actual conversations.

8. What did the tapes reveal?
The tapes revealed Nixons involvement in the watergate scandals.

9. Why did Vice President Spiro Agnew resign?
Because he had been caught taking bribes from engineering firms when he was the gov. of
maryland.

10. What did the House Judiciary Committee charge President Nixon with?
obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress.

11. How did the Watergate scandal create a constitutional crisis?
It created constitutional crisis because of Nixon's ability to try and get away with covering up the watergate scandal.