Nixon's Background

Richard Nixon was born in California in 1913.  He went Whittier College and Duke University Law School. After Law school, despite his law degree he could not find a job in New York City or in the FBI. Eventually Nixon found a lawyer position in the Price Administration. He also served as a Navy lieutenant during World War II. After the war he was elected into the Senate in 1950.  In 1952, he was selected to be Eisenhower’s vice president. Nixon had a good role as vice president for Eisenhower.  In 1960, he ran for president, but lost to John F. Kennedy. In 1968 he ran again and won over Hubert Humphrey and George C Wallace.

Political Views

Nixon’s political resume was one who believes in anticommunism and also he believed in conservatism. This profile was a great fit for America during the cold war era. He also helped secure Alger Hiss in the perjury case which got Nixon’s name out and made him more well known in American society.

The First Term

During his presidency, some of his accomplishments included the conclusion of the draft, new anticrime laws, a widespread environmental program, and revenue sharing.  He also appointed conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.  In 1969, American astronauts landed on the moon.  Nixon also tried to maintain world stability with China, Russia, North Vietnam, Egypt, and Syria.  In 1972, Nixon won reelection against George McGovern in a landslide vote. The first term is best it will get for Richard Nixon. the second term is when the scandal occurs and thus resulting in the end of his presidential career.

Leading Up to Watergate

After Nixon ends the War in Vietnam which was a failure, he got in a fight between the Executive arm of government and the Congress of the Supreme Court. Also in early 1972 the CREEP administration was created. It stands for the Committee to Re-elect the President. This administration was used to raise as much money for the president as possible. Also CREEP did not have to report the amount rose because there was no law for it so they could use it for any purpose.

Watergate Suspects

June 17, 1972: Five men were found breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, DC. After further investigation to the situation, it was traced back to the CREEP organization. Bernard L. Barker, Virgilio R. Gonzales, James W. McCord, Eugenio R. Martinez, and Frank A. Sturgis were the five men arrested for attempted burglary and attempted interception of telephone and other communications

First Problem

June 19, 1972- September 29, 1972: A GOP security aide is among the Watergate burglars reports. Former attorney general John Mitchell, head of the Nixon reelection campaign, denies any link to the operation.

-A $25,000 check that was earmarked for the Nixon campaign, was found in a bank account of a Watergate burglar.

- Attorney general John Mitchell, controlled a secret Republican fund used to finance widespread intelligence-gathering operations against the Democrats while he was still serving.

The Second Election

  October 10, 1972- November 11, 1972 : FBI agents establish that the Watergate break-in comes from an elaborate campaign of political spying and sabotage by the CREEP Administration

-Nixon is re-elected in one of the largest landslides in American political history, taking more than 60 percent of the vote leaving Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota in the dust