Moments in American History - Watergate · American Historical Society
Excerpts from, and commentary on, speeches and tapes of President Richard Nixon about the 1972 break-in at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. that led to Nixon's resignation in 1974.
Despite the investigation, President Nixon maintained his innocence...
"In all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice.
People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook.
Well, I am not a crook."
But his private tapes tell a different story.
"You have the CIA call the FBI and say, 'The President believes the Watergate...
... investigation is going to open the Bay of Pigs thing up again.'
And they should call the FBI in and say that we wish...
... for the good of the country, drop the case. Period!"
"I don't give a shit what happens. I want you all to stonewall it...
... let them plead the Fifth Amendment, if it'll save it, save this plan.
That's the whole point. We're going to protect our people if we can."
When these tapes were made public, there was only one thing Nixon could do.
"I have never been a quitter. But as President, I must put the interest of America first.
Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow."
After his resignation, Nixon withdrew from public life, until an interview in 1977.
"Oh, when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal..."
| Effect | Value | Amount |
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| Boredom | -17 | ×17 |
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