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Period: to
Nixon serves as VP to Eisenhower
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GOP presidental nominee, defeated by JFK
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Runs for Govenor of California-- defeated by Jerry Brown
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Nixon defeats Hubert Humphrey in the presidental election
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Nixon goes to China
Foregin policy triumph -
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Howard Hunt makes repeated demands to Nixon associates for hushmoney for the Watergate Burgulars
Washington Post reportes Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein investigate the break in and learn enough to siusspect that the burgulars are connected to the white house, and the hush money is likely being paid to them. -
Five burgulars are arrested in the headquarters of the DNC
They were attempting to place a wire tap on the telephone of the committee chairman. -
a grand jury indicts the 5 burgulars and 2 accessories
for conspiracy, purgery and violating federal wire tapping laws -
Nixon Re-elected
by a sweeping margin. Electorial college votes 520/17 -
Select committee on presidental campagin activities, chaired by Senator Sam Ervin begins an investigation of the break-in
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Three high-level White House aides and the Attorney General resign
Nixon gives his new Attorney General (Elliott Richardson) authority to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Watergate Scandal -
White House staffer Alexander Butterfield reveals to the Senate Select Committee that Nixon has began bugging the Oval Office in 1969 and that recordings of conversations exist.
The special prosecutor immediately subpoenas those tapes, however, Nixon refuses, claiming executive privilege. -
Nixon fires the special prosecutor because of his continuing insistence on gaining access to the Oval Office tapes.
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the United States House of Representatives voted 410-4 to begin an investigation of bringing impeachment charges against Nixon.
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seven key Nixon aides are indicted by a grand jury for conspiring to hinder the Watergate investigation.
Nixon was secretly named as an unindicted co- conspirator, information that becomes public months later. -
Period: to
The Nixon White House, persisting in its claims of executive privilege, and the special prosecutor continue arguing over access to the tapes and the case goes to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Period: to
the House Judiciary Committee votes on three articles of impeachment, charging Nixon with obstruction of justice abuse of power and contempt of Congress.
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In the case of U.S. v. Nixon, the court rules unanimously that claims of executive privilege are void and orders that the tapes be turned over to the special prosecutor.
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a recorded conversation between Nixon and his chief of staff on June 23,1972, establishes incontrovertibly that Nixon took steps to thwart the investigations of the break-in by the FBI and the CIA.
This tape is dubbed “the smoking gun.” -
Nixon Resigns
