Frank Wills, a twenty four year old security guard, discovered a taped door at the Watergate building. He thought someone had taped the door while moving furniture earlier in the day. He removed the tape. Later, during his rounds he discovered the door taped again. This was June 17, 1972, (Archer, l) and it was the break in that would bring down the Presidency of Richard M. Nixon. Frank Wills called the Washington D. C. police. Sergeant Paul Leeper and officers John Barrett and Carl Shaffler responded. They discovered five men in the Democratic National Committee headquarters. They were well dres

The White House tapes provided the evidence that was missing from the Watergate investigation. A tape recording made 6 days after the break in proved Nixon and Haldeman conspired to use the CIA to head off the FBI look at the burglary (Archer,232). This recorded evidence proved beyond a doubt that the President knew of the conspiracy. This was the "smoking gun" needed to bring down the Presidency.

The President and his staff made every effort to frustrate and undermine the committee's activities. President Nixon tried to prevent John Dean from appearing before Ervin's committee. Judge John Sirica handed down maximum sentences to the Watergate burglars but made the sentences so that the burglars would be encouraged to cooperate with the Federal Grand Jury.

Sam Ervin, a Democrat, and a nineteen year Senate veteran from North Carolina was to serve as chairman of a Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Archer, 121). Also the Republican Senator Howard Baker asked the all important question of "What did the President know and when did he know it?" (Archer,189)

It is surprising that someone in so high an office as the Presidency could have messed up so badly and made such stupid mistakes as Nixon did. The entire Watergate break-in was unnecessary as the re- election of Nixon proved. Nixon received a landslide victory. The election was not even close.

An unexpected turn of events were uncovered when a group questioned Alexander Butterfield, a former White House official. It was uncovered that there was an elaborate recording system in the President's office, and other White House locations. This most important piece of evidence was uncovered by a Republican (U.S. History, 9).

In the later years of Nixon's life, he seemed to be treated more kindly by history. He proved himself to be a statesman by traveling to China and developing better relationships between the United States and China. He seemed to be more at peace with himself.

John Dean and Jeb Stuart Magruder demanded immunity from prosecution or they would exercise their constitutional right under the Fifth Amendment. Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox had not wanted Dean and Magruder to testify with cameras but the court ruled that cameras could be used (U.S. History, 7). Dean's and Magruder's televised testimony helped the nation understand the extent of the Watergate affair.

The Watergate break in would prove to be Nixon's Waterloo. It was hard to fathom the motivation behind Watergate. This was a third rate burglary and Nixon had a landslide reelection.

Five sets of articles of impeachment were presented to the House Judiciary Committee by special counsel, John Doar and minority counsel Albert E. Jenner, Jr. After 4 days six Republican Congressmen and 21 Democrats joined to recommend that the House of Representatives impeach Richard M. Nixon, and seek his removal from the Presidency through a Senate trial. On August 5, 1974, President Nixon was ordered to turn over the tapes and records for use by Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski in trial of six of the President's aides. The court rejected Nixon's argument of executive privilege (Time, 2). Woodward and Bernstein reported that Nixon began to drink as a way to escape. He felt isolated. He had carried out many activities in secret under the guise of national security. He thought he was above

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2279
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)