Watergate2 essays

Watergate2 essays 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 5 men equipped with electronic bugging devices and burglary tools at the headquarters for the 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 suspect was 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 had any prior knowledge to the burglary. The break-in was part of an elaborate plan by CREEP to sabotage Nixons opposition for re-election. A week after the break in Nixon agreed to cover up the White Houses involvement in the break in. Nixon claimed that any further investigation of the scandal was a threat to national security and needed to cease immediately. This plan seemed to work until early 1973 when the trial for the Watergate break-in began. Nixon had his chance to come clean at this time, but he chose not to. This only made things worse for him Once the trial began his involvement in the cover up became greater, and involved blackmailing by those who were on trial for the The Watergate trial was brief, 5 of the defendant plead guilty and the other 2 were convicted by the jury. Before Judge Sircia sentenced the defendants there was a letter written by McCord read to the court that implicated that higher ups in the White House Administration had prior knowledge of the burglary and had committed perjury. Nixons cover up was beginning to come apart and he told the American public that he had no prior knowledge of the break in or the cover up that followed until March 21, which was a lie. By April 30, 1973 Nixon was under extreme pressure and announced to America the ...