>> Secretary: MR. COLSON
MR. PRESIDENT.
>> President Richard Nixon: YEAH.
>> Charles Colson: YES, SIR, MR. PRESIDENT.
>> Nixon: I REALLY GOT TO TEND TO THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTRY,
YOU KNOW.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM KEEPING ME OUT OF THE
GODDAMN THING BECAUSE I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
>> Colson: I THINK YOU SHOULD KEEP OUT OF THIS, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE BIGGEST NEGATIVE TO THE WATERGATE, IN MY MIND,
EVENTUALLY IT'S GOING TO COME OUT.
THERE'S TOO DAMN MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.
>> Nixon: OH, SURE, THE WHOLE GODDAMN STORY'S GOING TO
COME OUT.
>> Mike Wallace: EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO ME, WILL YOU,
MR. EHRLICHMAN?
BREAKING AND ENTERING, WIRETAPPING...
>> Bob Woodward: FIVE BURGLARS.
BUSINESS SUITS.
$100 BILLS IN THEIR POCKETS.
>> Walter Cronkite: ...CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF BURGLARIZING AND
BUGGING DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON.
>> Nixon: I HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WATERGATE
BREAK-IN.
>> Cronkite: ...BUT THE EPISODE GREW STEADILY MORE SINISTER...
>> Wallace: ...CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT KIDNAPPING, DESTRUCTION
OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS...
>> John Dean: I REMEMBER WELL HIS INSTRUCTIONS.
HE TOLD ME TO SHRED THE DOCUMENTS AND "DEEP SIX" THE
BRIEFCASE.
>> Alexander Butterfield: IT WAS, IN MANY WAYS, A CESSPOOL.
>> Wallace: ...SECRET SLUSH FUNDS, LAUNDERING MONEY IN
MEXICO, PAYOFFS TO SILENCE WITNESSES...
>> Nixon: YOU COULD GET A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND YOU COULD GET IT IN CASH.
I KNOW WHERE IT COULD BE GOTTEN.
>> Stahl: NIXON WAS DARK AND PARANOID.
HE TRIED TO USE THE F.B.I.
HE TRIED TO USE THE C.I.A.
>> Woodward: IT IS A LEVEL OF UNIMAGINABLE CORRUPTION.
>> Carl Bernstein: IT WAS INTENDED TO UNDERMINE THE VERY
BASIS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: FREE AND UNFETTERED ELECTIONS.
>> Wallace: ...SPYING BY UNDERCOVER AGENTS, PLANS TO
FIREBOMB A BUILDING, CONSPIRACY TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE...
>> Hugh Sloan: IT'S A CAUTIONARY TALE, AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF
THE REASONS YOU'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT 50 YEARS LATER.
>> Wallace: ...ALL OF THIS BY THE LAW-AND-ORDER ADMINISTRATION
OF RICHARD NIXON.
>> John Ehrlichman: IS THERE A QUESTION IN THERE SOMEWHERE?
>> Richard Nixon: AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE TODAY, NOT BECAUSE HER
PEOPLE HAVE FAILED, BUT BECAUSE HER LEADERS HAVE FAILED.
AND WHAT AMERICA NEEDS ARE LEADERS TO MATCH THE GREATNESS
OF HER PEOPLE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stahl: EVERY COUPLE OF
GENERATIONS, WE GET A MOMENT OF SCANDAL...
>> Nixon: I SHALL RESIGN THE PRESIDENCY, EFFECTIVE AT NOON
TOMORROW.
>> Stahl: LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR LEADERSHIP, LOSS OF
CONFIDENCE OUR SYSTEM.
>> President Bill Clinton: I DID NOT HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH
THAT WOMAN, MS. LEWINSKY.
>> Dan Rather: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES HAS BEEN IMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE.
>> Stahl: THE PERSON AT THE TOP INFECTS EVERYTHING BELOW.
>> President Donald Trump: OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WE'VE
AMASSED OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE ABOUT A FAKE ELECTION.
>> Stahl: WE'VE SEEN IT.
WE'VE SEEN IT RECENTLY, AND WE LIVED THROUGH IT DURING
WATERGATE.
I CAME ALONG IN APRIL OF 1972-- BRAND NEW.
I HAD JUST STARTED.
TOMORROW, UNITED STATES PILOTS WILL ASK THE INTERNATIONAL
PILOTS ASSOCIATION TO JOIN THEM IN A WORLDWIDE BOYCOTT OF
COUNTRIES THAT HARBOR HIJACKERS.
LESLEY STAHL, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.
THE WASHINGTON BUREAU OF CBS WAS HUGE.
BUT, IT WAS ALSO THE MIDDLE OF THE 1972 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
SO, MOST OF THE REPORTERS WERE OUT COVERING CANDIDATES.
>> Reporter: IT IS THE CONSENSUS OF REPUBLICAN OPINION HERE THAT
RICHARD NIXON IS THE ONE WHO WILL WIN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE
PRIMARY.
THE QUESTION IS, BY HOW MUCH?
>> Ted Kennedy: I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, GEORGE McGOVERN!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stahl: IT'S JUNE 17, 1972.
THERE'S A CRACKLE OF NOISE ON THE POLICE RADIOS THAT THERE'S A
BREAK-IN AT THE WATERGATE, AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HEADQUARTERS.
>> Charles Osgood: GOOD EVENING.
WE HAVE A MYSTERY STORY OUT OF WASHINGTON.
FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH BREAKING INTO
THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
>> Stahl: VERY FEW NEWS ORGANIZATIONS THOUGHT IT
REGISTERED AS A STORY AT ALL, BUT CBS HAD A SORT OF SCENT
ABOUT THIS.
THE ASSIGNMENT EDITOR SEIZES A BREAK-IN AT THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
HE LOOKS AROUND THE NEWSROOM, THERE'S NO ONE.
SO HE SENDS THE NEW KID.
>> Daniel Schorr: POLICE ARRESTED FIVE MEN IN THE
WATERGATE WITH BUGGING EQUIPMENT AND COPYING CAMERAS.
>> George Herman: ARRESTED AT GUNPOINT, THE MEN REFUSED TO
GIVE THEIR NAMES, OR TO SAY WHY THEY HAD BROKEN IN.
THE FIVE MEN ALSO HAD ON THEM 11 CRISP NEW $100 BILLS, ALL WITH
CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERS, AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD GONE TO THE
BANK AND CASHED A LARGE CHECK ALL IN $100 BILLS.
>> Angelo Lano: I WAS CALLED IN AROUND 8:00 THAT MORNING.
THE ARRESTS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS NOT THE BEST ORGANIZED BURGLARY.
THE QUESTION WAS, WHO ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS?
SO, MY PARTNER AND I WENT TO THE LOCKUP AND ATTEMPTED TO
INTERVIEW THE ARRESTEES, AND THEY REFUSED TO SAY ANYTHING.
>> Stahl: THEY SENT ME TO THE ARRAIGNMENT.
AS THE TESTIMONY WENT FORWARD, YOU BECAME MORE AND MORE
SUSPICIOUS.
THERE WERE $100 BILLS WITH CONSECUTIVE NUMBERS.
THESE GUYS WERE CUBANS.
YOU KEPT SITTING UP, THINKING, "MY, THIS IS NOT JUST A
THIRD-RATE BURGLARY."
THERE WERE ONLY TWO OTHER REPORTERS THERE.
I TURNED TO THE GUY FROM THE "WASHINGTON POST" NEXT TO ME,
AND I KEPT SAYING "AM I HEARING THIS RIGHT?"
AND HE SAID, "YOU ARE.
MY NAME IS BOB WOODWARD."
>> Woodward: I WAS ASLEEP, AND I GOT A CALL FROM THE
"WASHINGTON POST" ON THIS WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY
MORNING, JUNE 17, 1972.
SAID THERE HAD BEEN A BURGLARY AT THE DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS.
COULD I COME IN?
>> Bernstein: I SAW ALL THIS COMMOTION OUT AT THE CITY DESK
AND HEARD ABOUT THIS BREAK-IN AT THE DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS.
I SAID, THIS IS A BETTER STORY THAN THE ONE I'M WORKING ON.
AND SO I TOLD-- I SAID TO THE CITY EDITOR, WHAT IF I JUST MAKE
A FEW PHONE CALLS?
>> Lawrence O'Brien: THERE WERE TAPS ON AT LEAST TWO TELEPHONES.
IT BECOMES CLEARER BY THE DAY THAT A MOST SERIOUS CRIME HAS
BEEN COMMITTED.
>> Schorr: THIS FILE CABINET WAS FOUND WITH THE LOCK PICKED,
THE BAR THAT HOLDS THE CABINET IN PLACE LYING ON THE FLOOR, A
DRAWER OPEN.
>> Bernstein: THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE FILES.
THEY WANTED TO FIND OUT EVERYTHING THEY COULD ABOUT THE
CAMPAIGN.
>> Woodward: THEY'D GONE IN IN MAY, THE MONTH BEFORE, TO PLANT
EAVESDROPPING DEVICES.
IT WAS A BASIC NIXON OPERATION.
GET DIRT ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT CAN BE USED AS LEVERAGE.
>> Wallace: ONE OF THE MEN APPREHENDED YESTERDAY WHILE
ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTING TO BUG THE OFFICES OF THE DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE
SECURITY COORDINATOR FOR THE PRINCIPAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
TO RE-ELECT PRESIDENT NIXON.
>> Woodward: WHEN THE ARRAIGNMENT JUDGE ASKED JAMES
McCORD, "WHERE DID YOU WORK?" McCORD WENT...
AND THE JUDGE SAID, "SPEAK UP."
FINALLY, McCORD SAID "C.I.A.," AND I THINK I BLURTED OUT,
"HOLY ( BLEEP )."
>> Schorr: THE FIRST ARRESTS WERE DISMISSED BY THE WHITE
HOUSE AS A MINOR INCIDENT.
THE WATERGATE AFFAIR BEGAN TO LOOK LESS MINOR WHEN, ALONG
WITH THE FIVE, TWO OTHER MEN WERE INDICTED WHO HAD ESCAPED
IMMEDIATE ARREST.
G. GORDON LIDDY, FINANCE COUNSEL TO THE NIXON CAMPAIGN
ORGANIZATION, EX-F.B.I., EX-TREASURY, EX-WHITE HOUSE
CONSULTANT; AND E. HOWARD HUNT JR., EX-
C.I.A., EX-BAY OF PIGS PLANNER, EX-WHITE HOUSE CONSULTANT.
>> Woodward: THERE WAS THIS ENTRY IN THE ADDRESS BOOKS OF
THE WATERGATE BURGLARS.
"H.HUNT-DASH-W.HOUSE."
SO I CALLED THE WHITE HOUSE AND ASKED FOR H. HUNT, WHO TURNED
OUT TO BE HOWARD HUNT.
I SAID, "HOW IS IT THAT YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER IS IN THE
ADDRESS BOOKS OF TWO OF THE BURGLARS CAUGHT AT THE
WATERGATE?" AND HUNT SCREAMED OUT, "GOOD
GOD," HUNG UP THE PHONE AND LEFT TOWN.
>> H.R. Haldeman: THE BIG FLAP OVER THE WEEKEND HAS BEEN NEWS
A GROUP OF FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BREAKING INTO THE
DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS.
THE REAL PROBLEM HERE IS WHETHER ANYTHING IS TRACEABLE TO GORDON
LIDDY.
>> Wallace: HALDEMAN WAS THE GATEKEEPER FREQUENTLY CRITICIZED
FOR ISOLATING THE PRESIDENT.
HE ONCE SAID, "EVERY PRESIDENT NEEDS AN S.O.B., AND I'M
NIXON'S."
>> Haldeman: THE PRESIDENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT OUR
COUNTERATTACK IS, OUR P.R.
OFFENSIVE TO TOP THIS.
WE'VE GOT TO HOPE THAT THE F.B.I. DOESN'T GO BEYOND THE
NECESSARY IN DEVELOPING EVIDENCE, AND THAT WE CAN KEEP A
LID ON THAT.
>> Lano: PEOPLE WERE BEING CALLED, QUESTIONED BY THE F.B.I.
WE DID THE JOB THAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO, AND LET THE CHIPS
FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
AND IF IT LED TO THE WHITE HOUSE, LET IT FALL.
>> E. Howard Hunt: I HAVE NO COMMENT TO MAKE.
>> Stahl: AS WE GO THROUGH THE VARIOUS MOMENTS IN THIS STORY...
>> Reporter: WHO POSTED YOUR BOND, MR. McCORD?
>> Stahl: ...YOU GET THE SENSE OF ONE REVELATION AFTER THE NEXT
THAT'S EXPLOSIVE.
EACH ONE WAS A PEELING AWAY AT NIXON.
IT WAS AS IF HE WAS COVERED IN BAND-AIDS, AND WE WERE JUST
RIPPING THEM OFF, ONE AFTER THE NEXT.
>> Woodward: WATERGATE WAS NOT ABOUT THE BURGLARY.
>> Bernstein: THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Woodward: WATERGATE WAS ABOUT A WHOLE CAMPAIGN OF SABOTAGE AND
ESPIONAGE, ABOUT COVER-UP, ABOUT A WAR AGAINST THE PRESS-- A WAR
AGAINST THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.
>> Stahl: IT WAS A SUBVERSION OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
>> Nixon: PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEIR
PRESIDENT IS A CROOK.
WELL, I'M NOT A CROOK.
>> Stahl: HE SAID HE WASN'T A CROOK.
BUT THAT WAS THE POINT.
HE WAS A CROOK.
THE CENTRAL MYSTERIES STILL REMAIN: WHAT WERE THOSE MEN
AFTER AT THE WATERGATE?
WHO SENT THEM?
HOW WERE THEY PAID?
WHAT'S MAKING THE REPUBLICANS NERVOUS IS, IT'S BEGINNING TO
LOOK AS THOUGH SOME MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION
COMMITTEE MAY KNOW THE ANSWERS.
>> Nixon: SOME PUBLIC MEN ARE DESTINED TO BE LOVED, AND
OTHER PUBLIC MEN ARE DESTINED TO BE DISLIKED.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT A PUBLIC MAN IS NOT
WHETHER HE'S LOVED OR DISLIKED, BUT WHETHER HE'S RESPECTED.
AND I HOPE TO RESTORE RESPECT TO THE PRESIDENCY.
>> WE WANT NIXON!
WE WANT NIXON!
* * >> Dwight Chapin: WHEN HE WAS
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN THE 1968 PERIOD, THE NATION REALLY
WAS UNDERGOING ALL KINDS OF STRESS AND STRAIN.
* * WE HAD, THAT YEAR, THE
ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING.
WE HAD THE ASSASSINATION OF BOBBY KENNEDY.
WE HAD FIRES IN THE MAJOR CITIES, RIOTS.
* * I MEAN, IT WAS JUST UTTER
TURMOIL.
>> Nixon: LET'S MAKE AMERICA FIRST AGAIN IN RESPECT FOR ORDER
AND JUSTICE UNDER LAW.
NOW ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANT?
ISN'T THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO?
>> Chapin: I WAS THE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTMENT SECRETARY.
I BELIEVE I KNEW HIM VERY WELL.
I'VE HEARD THAT TERM, THAT NIXON WAS "AN INTROVERT IN AN
EXTROVERT'S JOB," AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TRUTH TO THAT.
* * >> Nixon: AS FAR AS THE CHARISMA
AND ALL THE P.R. TRICKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A MATINEE IDOL, FORGET IT.
IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT IN A PRESIDENT, I'M NOT THE MAN.
>> Stahl: YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL COMPLICATED.
NONE OF US ARE ONE THING; WE'RE FILLED WITH CONTRADICTIONS.
AND SO IS NIXON.
HE PUSHED FOR AND GOT PAST THINGS THAT WE CALL LIBERAL
TODAY.
( SINGING ) >> Stahl: THE ENVIRONMENTAL
MOVEMENT.
>> Nixon: CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, OPEN SPACES-- THESE
SHOULD ONCE AGAIN BE THE BIRTHRIGHT OF EVERY AMERICAN.
>> Stahl: THEY WERE JUST OPENING UP RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
NIXON AND KISSINGER WERE JUST BEGINNING TO HAVE A LITTLE
DÉTENTE WITH CHINA FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND A DÉTENTE WITH RUSSIA, THE SOVIET UNION.
THERE WAS A SENSE OF A MAN OF DEPTH, AND A SENSE THAT HE
REALLY DID WANT TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE WORLD.
>> Nixon: HELLO, NEIL AND BUZZ.
I'M TALKING TO YOU BY TELEPHONE FROM THE OVAL ROOM AT THE WHITE
HOUSE, AND THIS CERTAINLY HAS TO BE THE MOST HISTORIC TELEPHONE
CALL EVER MADE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> Stahl: AND THEN, THERE'S THIS... I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL
IT, CORRUPT SIDE TO HIM.
>> Haldeman: THEY'RE ALL OUT OF JAIL.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
ALL OUT ON BAIL.
>> Nixon: WELL, THEY TOOK A HELL OF A RISK, AND THEY HAVE TO BE
PAID.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
>> Stahl: THERE WAS A RACIST STREAK.
HE WAS ANTI-SEMETIC.
>> Nixon: THE JEWS ARE BORN SPIES.
THEY'RE JUST IN IT UP TO THEIR NECKS.
>> Stahl: SO, HE'S CONFUSING.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, "WHAT'S NIXON LIKE?"
THERE ARE TOO MANY CONTRADICTIONS TO HAVE AN
EASY ANSWER.
>> Bernstein: ONE OF THE DOMINANT THINGS GOING ON IN
1972, AND IT PREDATED NIXON'S ELECTION, WAS THE ANTI-WAR
MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> Cronkite: WITH EACH ESCALATION, THE WORLD COMES
CLOSER TO THE BRINK OF COSMIC DISASTER.
>> END THE WAR!
>> Stahl: THE MOMENTUM OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT IS BUILDING.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR...
STOP THE VIOLENCE.
STOP THE WAR.
>> Stahl: THE SENSE THAT THE MILITARY'S NOT TELLING US THE
TRUTH HAS COME TO THE FORE, BECAUSE OF THE LEAK OF THE
PENTAGON PAPERS.
>> Reporter: THE NEWSPAPER HAS PRINTED EXCERPTS FROM
THOUSANDS OF CLASSIFIED PENTAGON PAPERS, DETAILING THE HIDDEN
HISTORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
>> Colson: NIXON, IN ABSOLUTE FRUSTRATION, AND SOMEWHAT
JUSTIFIABLE, IN MY OPINION, WAS POUNDING THE DESK IN THE
OVAL OFFICE, SAYING, "WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP
THESE" EXPLETIVE DELETED "LEAKS.
I WANT THOSE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS PROTECTED."
>> Wallace: AND THAT'S WHERE THE PLUMBERS BEGAN.
>> Colson: THAT'S WHERE THE PLUMBERS STARTED.
>> Woodward: THE HIRING OF GORDON LIDDY AND HOWARD HUNT...
THEY WERE CALLED THE "PLUMBERS," IN THE WHITE HOUSE, TO PLUG
LEAKS.
>> Wallace: THE SHADOW OF CORRUPTION CAST BY THE WATERGATE
BUGGING CAPER KEEPS GROWING LARGER AND MORE MENACING,
INSTEAD OF DISAPPEARING AS THE REPUBLICANS HAD HOPED.
>> Bernstein: THE FIRST 12 WEEKS OF THE STORY ESTABLISHED ALL
THE CRITICAL LINES, AND ESPECIALLY THE DISCOVERY OF A
SECRET FUND THAT PAID FOR THE UNDERCOVER ACTIVITIES OF THE
NIXON CAMPAIGN.
>> Schorr: SECRET MONEY, FOUND ON THE MEN WHO BROKE INTO
DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS.
>> Woodward: THE SECRET FUND HAD $700,000 IN CASH.
ASTONISHING IN ITSELF.
>> Bernstein: WE HAD THIS LIST OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE RE-ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, AND ONE OF
THEM WAS THE BOOKKEEPER, NAMED JUDY HOBACK.
>> Judy Hoback Miller: ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 14th, THERE
WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
IT WAS CARL BERNSTEIN.
>> Bernstein: SHE WAS SCARED.
THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME THROUGH.
>> Hoback Miller: I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT I HAD AN AWFUL LOT OF
INFORMATION.
OUR MAIN JOB WAS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FUNDS THAT CAME IN THROUGH
DONATIONS.
PEOPLE WOULD COME WITH BROWN PAPER BAGS OF CASH, MORE CASH
THAN I EVER DREAMED OF SEEING IN MY LIFETIME.
>> Bernstein: IT BECAME APPARENT THAT SHE WAS NOT A BLIND
LOYALIST TO RICHARD NIXON, AND THAT SOMETHING HAD OCCURRED,
THAT MADE HER THINK THAT THINGS WERE NOT AS THEY SHOULD BE.
AND SHE KIND OF BLURTED OUT THAT HUGH SLOAN, THE TREASURER, HAD
QUIT BECAUSE HE WAS DISTURBED BY WHAT HE HAD SEEN.
>> Hugh Sloan: I LEARNED ABOUT THE BREAK-IN BY READING THE
NEWSPAPER LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> Woodward: HUGH SLOAN WAS A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE NIXON
CAMPAIGN AND WAS THE TREASURER.
>> Chapin: WHEN CREP, THE COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT THE
PRESIDENT, WAS BEING ESTABLISHED, HUGH MOVED OUT OF
MY OPERATION AT THE WEST WING AND WENT OVER TO CREP.
HUGH IS A MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY.
>> Hugh Sloan: GORDON LIDDY CAME INTO THE OFFICE.
HE WAS OBVIOUSLY IN A HURRY.
IN PASSING ME IN THE HALL, TOLD ME, "MY BOYS GOT CAUGHT
LAST NIGHT.
I MADE A MISTAKE.
I'M GOING TO LOSE MY JOB."
KNOWING I'D JUST GIVEN A WHOLE LOT OF CASH TO GORDON LIDDY,
I WAS MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT PROBABLY, I UNWITTINGLY HAD
PAID FOR THIS.
>> Cronkite: THE WHITE HOUSE DENIED, AND CONTINUES TO DENY,
INVOLVEMENT IN ANY WRONGDOING.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BREAK-IN, THE COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT THE
PRESIDENT FIRED McCORD.
WHEN LIDDY REFUSED TO ANSWER F.B.I. QUESTIONS, HE WAS FIRED,
TOO.
>> Schorr: THE WATERGATE CONSPIRATOR, GORDON LIDDY,
RECEIVED $235,000 ON THE SAY-SO OF HALDEMAN'S MAN IN THE
COMMITTEE, JEB McGRUDER.
>> Hugh Sloan: I WAS SUMMONED BY JEB MAGRUDER, WHO SAID, "WE HAVE
A PROBLEM ABOUT THE LIDDY MONEY.
WE NEED TO AGREE ON A NUMBER.
WE NEED A LOWER NUMBER."
I SAID, "JEB, I'M NOT GOING TO PERJURE MYSELF OVER THIS THING."
AND HE RATHER CHILLINGLY SAID, "WELL, YOU MAY HAVE TO."
>> Chapin: HUGH CAME UP TO ME AND HE STARTED DESCRIBING WHAT
WAS GOING ON OVER AT CREP.
HE SAYS THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY.
SAYS THINGS WERE OUT OF CONTROL.
SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> Hugh Sloan: IN MY MIND, WHAT WAS DEVELOPING, CLEARLY WAS A
COVER-UP.
I'D LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ASK THE QUESTION.
I STAKED OUT, MY OWN MIND, HOW I WAS GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS.
AND FORTUNATELY, I WAS SUPPORTED BY MY WIFE, WHO WAS A ROCK
THROUGH ALL THIS FOR ME.
>> Deborah Sloan: I WORKED IN THE EAST WING IN THE WHITE HOUSE
AS ASSISTANT TO THE SOCIAL SECRETARY.
WE HAD REALLY LED A FAIRYTALE EXISTENCE.
AND THEN SUDDENLY THIS HAPPENED.
>> Cronkite: IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, TWO TOP-LEVEL OPERATIVES
LEFT THE NIXON CAMPAIGN.
JOHN MITCHELL, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, CITED FAMILY REASONS
FOR HIS DEPARTURE AS CAMPAIGN MANAGER.
HUGH SLOAN, JR. RESIGNED AS CAMPAIGN TREASURER BECAUSE HE
SAID HIS WIFE WAS EXPECTING A CHILD SHORTLY.
>> Deborah Sloan: WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT HIS RESIGNING, I WAS VERY
UPSET, AND I WAS-- ACTUALLY, I WAS AFRAID I WAS GOING TO GO
INTO LABOR PREMATURELY.
BUT WE BOTH KNEW THAT WE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN LYING FOR ANYBODY.
I WOULD NOT HAVE MARRIED HIM IF HE WAS... DIDN'T HAVE THE
INTEGRITY THAT HE DID HAVE.
>> CAN YOU CONFIRM THE REPORT...
>> Hoback Miller: WHEN HUGH SLOAN DECIDED TO RESIGN, HE
SAID, "YOU NEED TO STAY THERE, SO YOU CAN TELL THE TRUTH WHEN--
WHEN IT'S NEEDED TO BE TOLD."
>> Hugh Sloan: I DO NOT WISH TO MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENT.
>> Deborah Sloan: THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE KNOCKING ON OUR
DOOR, BUT WOODWARD AND BERNSTEIN WERE THE MOST PERSISTENT.
>> Woodward: HUGH SLOAN HAD A CONSCIENCE.
HE WAS SNAGGED IN, AND HE DIDN'T LIKE IT, AND HE WANTED TO
HELP US.
>> Hoback Miller: I WAS VERY UPSET THAT HUGH SLOAN WAS BEING,
SORT OF, PINNED AS THE FALL GUY.
AND I REALLY, AT THIS POINT, WANTED THE TRUTH TO COME OUT.
I FELT VERY STRONGLY BY THIS POINT THAT IT PROBABLY WENT WAY
TO THE TOP.
>> Nixon: I HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WATERGATE
BREAK-IN.
I NEITHER TOOK PART IN, NOR KNEW ABOUT ANY OF THE SUBSEQUENT
COVER-UP ACTIVITIES.
I NEITHER AUTHORIZED NOR ENCOURAGED SUBORDINATES TO
ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER CAMPAIGN TACTICS.
THAT WAS AND THAT IS THE SIMPLE TRUTH.
* * ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Nixon: TONIGHT, I AGAIN PROUDLY ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION
FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> FOUR MORE YEARS!
FOUR MORE YEARS!
>> Stahl: AT THE END OF 1972, AS WE WERE GETTING CLOSER TO THE
ELECTION, WALTER CRONKITE, OUR LEADER AT CBS NEWS, DECIDED THAT
THIS STORY'S VERY CONFUSING.
HE BELIEVED IT WAS A HUGE STORY THAT REACHED RIGHT UP TO THE
HIGHEST LEVELS OF POWER, AND HE SET OUT TO EXPLAIN THE
COMPLICATIONS.
>> Cronkite: AT FIRST, IT WAS CALLED THE WATERGATE CAPER.
FIVE MEN APPARENTLY CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF BURGLARIZING AND
BUGGING DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON.
BUT THE EPISODE GREW STEADILY MORE SINISTER.
>> Deborah Sloan: WALTER CRONKITE WAS AN ICON.
HE DID NOT APPEAR PARTISAN.
HE GAVE YOU THE FACTS.
YOU BELIEVED HIM.
YOU TRUSTED HIM.
YOU TRUSTED THAT HE WOULD BE TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.
>> Cronkite: WE SHALL TRY, TONIGHT, TO PULL TOGETHER THE
THREADS OF THIS AMAZING STORY, QUITE UNLIKE ANY IN OUR MODERN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
>> Schorr: IT WAS CLEAR THERE WERE LINKS REACHING INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: FOR SECRET INTELLIGENCE WORK AND DIRTY
TRICKS AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS...
>> Reporter: ...SEGRETTI TRIED TO RECRUIT AT LEAST 12 ATTORNEYS
FOR POLITICAL ESPIONAGE.
>> Schorr: A BOOKKEEPING NIGHTMARE IN A MASSIVE EFFORT TO
CONCEAL CAMPAIGN.
>> Rather: ISSUING GENERAL DENIALS, THEY ARE DEPENDING UPON
THAT AND SILENCE TO MAKE THE ALLEGATIONS GO AWAY.
>> Cronkite: CHARGES OF A HIGH-LEVEL CAMPAIGN OF
POLITICAL SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE APPARENTLY UNPARALLELED IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
>> Bernstein: WOW.
>> Woodward: THIS WAS A DREARY TIME.
THE "POST" WAS A LOCAL NEWSPAPER THEN.
THERE WAS NO INTERNET.
THERE WAS NO CIRCULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
CBS HAD TAKEN THE "POST" NATIONAL.
>> Bernstein: DURING THE INITIAL PHASE, THE TELEVISION COVERAGE
WAS-- WAS PRETTY POOR.
CBS, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN, I THINK, DID A
GREAT SERVICE BY AIRING THE ISSUE ON TWO LONG SEGMENTS ON
THE "CRONKITE" SHOW.
>> Woodward: VERY COURAGEOUSLY, IN FACT.
>> Bernstein: RIGHT, UNDER-- UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE NOT TO GO WITH IT.
>> Cronkite: THE STORY WAS LOSING IMPETUS, AND YET WITH THE
BODY OF EVIDENCE THEY HAD BROUGHT TOGETHER, IT WAS A WHALE
OF A STORY, OF COURSE.
WHO GOT THE WIRETAP REPORTS?
HOW WAS THE INFORMATION USED?
IT IS THIS LAST UNANSWERED QUESTION WHICH POINTS THE WAY
FROM THE WATERGATE CAPER TO THE WATERGATE AFFAIR- CHARGES THAT
WATERGATE WAS ONLY PART OF, IN THE "WASHINGTON POST'S" WORDS,
"A BROAD CAMPAIGN OF POLITICAL ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE AGAINST
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY."
>> Stahl: HE TELLS THE PUBLIC THAT, IN EFFECT, A CRIME HAS
BEEN COMMITTED, AND IT REACHES PRETTY HIGH UP IN THE
GOVERNMENT.
JUST THE FACT THAT WALTER DID THIS HIMSELF-- HE DIDN'T LEAD TO
ANOTHER REPORTER, HE DID THE REPORT-- HAD A HUGE IMPACT.
>> Nixon: YOU SEE CBS ON THE WATERGATE BUSINESS?
VERY DAMAGING POLITICALLY.
>> Haldeman: THE PRESIDENT HAD A STRONG REACTION TO CBS'S
SPECIAL REPORT ON THE WATERGATE LAST NIGHT.
SAYS, I QUOTE, "THAT FINISHES THEM," CLOSED QUOTE.
HE MEANS HE'S READY TO WRITE CBS OFF COMPLETELY.
>> Colson: THERE WAS BLOOD IN THE WATER.
WE HAD DONE A LOT TO CREATE HOSTILITY WITH THE PRESS.
I MEAN, WE WERE GREATLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
IT WAS A-- THERE WAS A REAL HOSTILITY, ADVERSARY
RELATIONSHIP.
>> Wallace: BETWEEN THE NIXON WHITE HOUSE AND THE PRESS
GENERALLY?
>> Colson: THE PRESS GENERALLY.
>> Wallace: PRINT AND TELEVISION?
>> Colson: PRINT AND TELEVISION.
>> Nixon: I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR SEEN SUCH OUTRAGEOUS, VICIOUS,
DISTORTED REPORTING IN 27 YEARS OF PUBLIC LIFE.
>> Woodward: NIXON LITERALLY SAID, "THE MOST POWERFUL
INSTITUTION IN THE COUNTRY IS NOT THE PRESIDENCY, NOT THE
SUPREME COURT, NOT THE CONGRESS, BUT THE PRESS, AND THEY ARE
VICIOUS AND THEY ARE AFTER YOU."
>> Robert Pierpoint: MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE
TELEVISION COVERAGE OF YOU IN THESE PAST WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT
HAS SO AROUSED YOUR ANGER?
>> Nixon: DON'T GET THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU AROUSE MY
ANGER.
( LAUGHTER ) YOU SEE, ONE CAN ONLY BE ANGRY
WITH THOSE HE RESPECTS.
>> Rather: IF ANY, OR ALL, OF WHAT IS ALLEGED TO BE GOING ON
IS TRUE, HOW HIGH UP IN THE WHITE HOUSE DOES IT GO?
THERE ARE THREE KEY NAMES: MITCHELL, HALDEMAN, AND CHAPIN.
>> Chapin: TO THOSE OF US ON THE NIXON SIDE, IT'S VIEWED AS A
POLITICAL EVENT.
IT'S OCTOBER; WE'RE COMING INTO A NOVEMBER ELECTION.
WE'RE GETTING THIS DISPROPORTIONATE COVERAGE THAT
PORTRAYS US AS CRIMINAL-LIKE, AND WE'RE REBELLING AGAINST IT.
>> Stahl: IT DID MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF HOW HIGH UP THIS STORY
WENT, INTO THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT IT DIDN'T CHANGE PUBLIC OPINION
THAT MUCH.
YOU KNOW, NIXON WAS PRETTY POPULAR.
>> Announcer: REPORTING FROM CBS NEWS ELECTION HEADQUARTERS
IN NEW YORK, HERE IS CORRESPONDENT WALTER CRONKITE.
>> Cronkite: GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
SOME OR ALL OF THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED NOW IN SOME 31 OF THE
STATES, AND PRESIDENT NIXON IS WELL ON THE WAY TOWARD THE
PREDICTED LANDSLIDE RE-ELECTION.
>> Woodward: NIXON WON A MASSIVE LANDSLIDE REELECTION, BUT IT WAS
A SENSE OF DREAD IN THE NIXON WHITE HOUSE, THAT "WE HAVE BEEN
CAUGHT."
THE GRAND INQUISITION IS BEGINNING.
>> Haldeman: GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THE STRATEGY THAT WE SHOULD
KEEP THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF TOTAL COOPERATION, BUT OUR
OBJECTIVE INTERNALLY SHOULD BE MAXIMUM OBSTRUCTION AND
CONTAINMENT.
>> Nixon: REAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN FINDING THE TRUTH.
I CONDEMN ANY ATTEMPTS TO COVER UP IN THIS CASE NO MATTER WHO IS
INVOLVED.
>> Haldeman: I GUESS THE PROBLEM OF WHAT TO DO WITH CHAPIN
CONCERNS THE PRESIDENT GREATLY.
HE'S VERY DETERMINED THAT WE NOT DO ANYTHING THAT'S HARMFUL IN
ANY WAY TO DWIGHT ESPECIALLY, BUT FEELS THAT WE CAN'T KEEP HIM
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> Chapin: AFTER THE ELECTION, THERE WAS A SENATOR BY THE NAME
OF SAM ERVIN, AND HE WAS GETTING READY TO HOLD SOME HEARINGS.
IT WAS FELT THAT, IF I LEFT AND IF CHUCK COLSON LEFT, THAT THAT
MIGHT HEAD OFF THE HEARINGS, AND THEREFORE I WAS GOING TO
HAVE TO LEAVE THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> Cronkite: THE WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMED TODAY THAT DWIGHT
CHAPIN IS LEAVING THIS SPRING FROM HIS JOB AS PRESIDENT
NIXON'S APPOINTMENTS SECRETARY.
THE SPOKESMAN, HOWEVER, DENIED REPORTS THAT CHAPIN'S BEING
FORCED OUT BECAUSE OF STORIES LINKING HIM TO THE POLITICAL
ESPIONAGE AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS.
>> Chapin: IT WAS INCREDIBLY PAINFUL.
I USE THE TERM "HEARTBROKEN."
BUT I ALSO HAD BEEN AROUND THE TRACK.
THEY FELT THAT IF THEY STARTED CLEANING HOUSE, THAT THEY COULD
MAYBE AVOID THE SAM ERVIN HEARINGS THING.
>> Roger Mudd: THE ACKNOWLEDGED LEADER OF THE SENATE'S FORCES OF
THIS LONG WAR IS SAM ERVIN OF NORTH CAROLINA.
>> Herman: ERVIN HAS PROMISED THAT THERE WILL BE REVELATIONS
OF NEW MATERIAL, EVENTS NOT YET REPORTED IN THE PRESS, AND HE
SAYS SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE STARTLING.
>> Sam Ervin: THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
>> Schorr: 11 MONTHS TO THE DAY FROM THE WATERGATE BREAK-IN,
CHAIRMAN SAM ERVIN LAUNCHED HIS BIPARTISAN SENATE COMMITTEE ON A
MONTHS-LONG SERIES OF HEARINGS, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO, HOW, AND
WHY.
>> Stahl: THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS COMES ON TO TELEVISION.
LIVE EVERY DAY.
THE LONG SILENCE MAINTAINED BY THE WATERGATE INSIDERS APPEARS
TO BE BREAKING DOWN.
AND WE HAD THE REPORTERS AT THESE LONG TABLES, AND FAMOUS
PEOPLE CAME.
MOVIE STARS, PEOPLE FROM ABROAD CAME TO SIT IN THAT ROOM.
>> I'M ON HOLIDAY FOR THREE WEEKS, AND I'M HERE TO HEAR THE
WATERGATE HEARINGS.
>> Stahl: EVERYBODY WATCHED.
THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
>> Ervin: IF THE MANY ALLEGATIONS MADE TO THIS DAY ARE
TRUE, THEN THE BURGLARS WHO BROKE INTO THE HEADQUARTERS OF
THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AT THE WATERGATE WERE,
IN EFFECT, BREAKING INTO THE HOME OF EVERY CITIZEN OF THE
UNITED STATES.
DO YOU SWEAR THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU SHALL GIVE THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES SHALL BE THE
TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP
YOU GOD?
>> Bernstein: THE HEARING ITSELF FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
ESTABLISHED A KIND OF MOMENTUM.
>> Sam Dash: AFTER YOUR ARREST, DID YOU RECEIVE ANY MONEY?
>> James McCord: YES, I DID.
>> Hugh Sloan: HE ASKED ME WHERE THE PAPER SHREDDER WAS.
>> Jeb Magruder: WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A VERY GOOD STORY TO
JUSTIFY WHY.
>> Bernstein: AND THEN YOU GOT TO DEAN.
>> Ervin: YOUR NAME IS JOHN W.
DEAN III.
>> Dean: THAT IS CORRECT.
>> Ervin: YOU MAY BE SEATED.
>> Stahl: HERE HE IS, THE MAN WHO WAS RICHARD NIXON'S CHIEF
COUNSEL.
HE WALKED YOU THROUGH SCENES IN THE OVAL OFFICE WITH THE
PRESIDENT, EACH SCENE IMPLICATING RICHARD NIXON.
HE JUST TOOK THE CURTAIN AND OPENED IT UP, AND THE MAN
STANDING THERE WAS RICHARD NIXON.
IT WAS THE TURNING POINT IN WATERGATE.
>> Cronkite: THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE IN THE WATERGATE SCANDAL.
ACCUSER AND ACCUSED.
34-YEAR-OLD JOHN WESLEY DEAN, III.
FIRED AS COUNSELOR TO PRESIDENT NIXON AFTER ISSUING A STATEMENT
THAT HE WOULD NOT BE A SCAPEGOAT, HE WENT TO FEDERAL
PROSECUTORS BARGAINING FOR IMMUNITY IF HE WOULD TELL ALL.
>> Dean: I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T REALLY ACCEPT
THE TRUTH FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS.
AND I THINK THAT... I FELT I COULD BE SOME SORT OF CATALYST
TO-- TO START GETTING THE TRUTH OUT.
>> Chapin: JOHN DEAN WAS IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING INVOLVING
POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.
SO, WHEN THE WATERGATE BREAK-IN HAPPENED, JOHN DEAN KNEW
PRECISELY WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED.
>> Stahl: DID YOU READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT MR. COLSON, AND
THE CHARGES THAT YOU WERE AN EARLY AND WILLING PARTICIPANT IN
THE WATERGATE COVER-UP?
>> Dean: NO, I HAVEN'T READ THE PAPER YET.
SORRY.
>> Stahl: MY JOB WAS TO STAKE PEOPLE OUT BEFORE THEY
TESTIFIED.
I WAS SENT OUT TO JOHN DEAN'S HOUSE, AND I SAID, "OH, THIS IS
FANTASTIC, I'M GOING TO GET A BIG, HUGE STORY."
AND ALL HE TOLD ME WAS THAT HE GOT A HAIRCUT.
>> Dean: I HAVE NO COMMENT.
SORRY.
>> Bernstein: NIXON HAD PUT DEAN SUPPOSEDLY IN CHARGE OF
INVESTIGATING WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
WHEN, IN FACT, DEAN BECAME INTEGRAL TO THE COVER-UP ITSELF.
>> Ervin: STAND UP AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
DO YOU SWEAR THAT THE EVIDENCE...
>> Stahl: HE TESTIFIED FOR DAYS.
>> Dean: THE WATERGATE MATTER WAS AN INEVITABLE OUTGROWTH...
I LEARNED ANY MEANS, LEGAL OR ILLEGAL, TO GET SOME THUGS TO
REMOVE...
>> Stahl: AND HE BASICALLY SAID NIXON WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE
COVER-UP.
>> Dean: I LEFT THE MEETING WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THE
PRESIDENT WAS WELL AWARE OF WHAT HAD BEEN GOING ON,
REGARDING THE SUCCESS OF KEEPING THE WHITE HOUSE OUT OF THE
WATERGATE SCANDAL, AND I HAD ALSO EXPRESSED TO HIM MY CONCERN
THAT I WAS NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE COVER-UP COULD BE MAINTAINED
INDEFINITELY.
>> Stahl: HERE HE IS, A MAN FROM WITHIN THE WHITE HOUSE, WITHIN
THE OVAL OFFICE, NOW TURNS THE TABLES.
SPILLS THE BEANS.
>> Woodward: THE POWER OF DEAN'S TESTIMONY WAS, HE
IMPLICATED HIMSELF.
HE DIDN'T SAY, "I DIDN'T DO THIS."
HE SAID, "I DID IT."
>> Dean: I SUBSEQUENTLY MET WITH MR. EHRLICHMAN TO INFORM HIM OF
THE CONTENTS OF HUNT'S SAFE.
I REMEMBER WELL HIS INSTRUCTIONS: HE TOLD ME TO
SHRED THE DOCUMENTS AND "DEEP SIX" THE BRIEFCASE.
>> Bernstein: DEAN WAS THE PERFECT WITNESS, AND YOU HAD ALL
THESE DETAILS.
THERE WAS NO WAY FOR HIM NOT TO BE CREDIBLE TO ANY OPEN-MINDED
PERSON.
>> Dash: I ALWAYS WAS SOMEWHAT SQUEAMISH ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
HOW MUCH... I BELIEVED WE COULD BELIEVE JOHN DEAN.
DID YOU JUST HAVE AN IMPRESSION AS TO HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE
COVER-UP, OR DO YOU HAVE A CONVICTION CONCERNING THAT?
AND I TRIED TO CROSS-EXAMINE HIM.
I COULDN'T BREAK HIM.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, MAYBE HE WAS A REALLY FLUENT LIAR.
>> Dean: AND I SAID TO THE-- THE PRESIDENT...
>> Richard Ben-Veniste: I WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT JOHN DEAN'S
IMPLICATION OF RICHARD NIXON.
IT SEEMED TO ME, THIS YOUNG GUY, WHO WAS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLDER
THAN I WAS AT THE TIME, WAS PERHAPS EXAGGERATING.
>> Wallace: WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF JOHN DEAN?
>> G. Gordon Liddy: I THINK, IN ALL FAIRNESS TO THE MAN,
YOU'D HAVE TO PUT HIM RIGHT UP THERE WITH JUDAS ISCARIOT, HE
BEING A BETRAYER OF A PERSON IN HIGH POSITION.
>> Wallace: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS MOTIVE WAS?
>> Liddy: TO SAVE HIS ASS.
>> Dean: I AM QUITE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES,
IT'S GOING TO BE MY WORD AGAINST ONE MAN'S WORD.
IT'S GOING TO BE MY WORD AGAINST TWO MEN.
IT'S GOING TO BE MY WORD AGAINST THREE MEN.
AND PROBABLY, IN SOME CASES, IT'S GOING TO BE MY WORD AGAINST
FOUR MEN.
I KNOW THE TRUTH IS MY ALLY IN THIS, AND I THINK, ULTIMATELY,
THE TRUTH IS GOING TO COME OUT.
>> Mudd: GOOD EVENING.
THERE WAS A STARTLING DEVELOPMENT IN THE SENATE
WATERGATE HEARINGS TODAY.
>> Schorr: COMMITTEE ATTENTION SEEMED FOCUSED ELSEWHERE,
MEMBERS WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER, AT ONE POINT HUDDLING
OUTSIDE.
AND WORD SPREAD OF A MYSTERY WITNESS.
>> Stahl: THIS WAS A SECRET WITNESS.
HE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE.
AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS.
WHO IS HE?
>> Ervin: I SUPPOSE, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT YOU STATE YOUR
NAME AND PRESENT OCCUPATION AND ADDRESS.
>> Butterfield: MY NAME IS ALEXANDER PORTER BUTTERFIELD.
I WAS CALLED DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT.
THAT PUT ME IN CHARGE OF THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICIAL DAY.
I BECAME INCREASINGLY CLOSE TO HIM THROUGHOUT THAT FOUR-YEAR
PERIOD.
HE WAS THE STRANGEST MAN I-- I GUESS, I EVER MET.
SHY.
VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AROUND PEOPLE HE HADN'T MET BEFORE.
AND HE WAS HARD TO READ.
HE SAID SOME THINGS THAT WERE MOST INAPPROPRIATE AT TIMES.
I SAT IN ON MANY MEETINGS AND I THOUGHT, MY GOD, I CAN'T
BELIEVE WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING, IN LIGHT OF WHAT HE
KNOWS AND I KNOW.
I KNEW SO MANY THINGS ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE.
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT TO TESTIFY.
>> Fred Thompson: SO YOU WERE EMPLOYED ON JANUARY 21, 1969...
>> Dash: EVERYBODY WAS WONDERING, "WHO IS THIS PERSON
COMING IN WITH HIS BRIEFCASE?" AND, HE THEN GAVE THE TESTIMONY
THAT LITERALLY SHOCKED THE WORLD.
>> Thompson: MR. BUTTERFIELD, ARE YOU AWARE OF THE
INSTALLATION OF ANY LISTENING DEVICES IN THE OVAL OFFICE OF
THE PRESIDENT?
>> Butterfield: I WAS AWARE OF LISTENING DEVICES.
YES, SIR.
>> Stahl: THE ROOM WAS JUST DRENCHED IN SILENCE.
ABSOLUTE SILENCE.
AND SLOWLY, AS HE HESITATED, IT BECAME CLEAR.
>> Thompson: ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY DEVICES THAT WERE INSTALLED
IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT?
>> Butterfield: YES, SIR.
AT THAT TIME.
>> Thompson: WERE THEY INSTALLED AT THE SAME TIME?
>> Butterfield: THEY WERE INSTALLED AT THE SAME TIME.
>> Dash: IT WASN'T ONE TAPE.
IT WAS A TAPING SYSTEM, THAT RECORDED, 24 HOURS A DAY, ALL OF
THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE OVAL OFFICE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AND BOOM, YOU KNOW.
WHAT AN EXPLOSION.
>> Chapin: WHEN ALEX BUTTERFIELD REVEALED THE TAPING SYSTEM, I
WAS STUNNED.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS THERE.
ONLY A VERY FEW SELECT PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THEM.
AND SO, I WAS REALLY TAKEN BACK.
>> Haldeman: THE TAPES WERE PUT INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AT RICHARD
NIXON'S ORDERS.
HE WANTED THEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECORDING AND PRESERVING FOR
HIS USE, HIS PERSONAL USE, ALL OF WHAT WAS SAID BY HIM AND BY
OTHERS IN THE MEETINGS THAT HE HELD IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND
OTHER PRINCIPAL PLACES.
>> Wallace: FOR EVENTUAL USE FOR WRITING OR WHATEVER?
>> Haldeman: FOR EVENTUAL REFERENCE BY HIM.
>> Wallace: THAT'S THE ONLY REASON?
>> Haldeman: THAT IS THE ABSOLUTELY ONLY REASON.
>> Dash: AND SO THAT IF EITHER MR. DEAN, MR. HALDEMAN,
MR. EHRLICHMAN, MR. COLSON HAD PARTICULAR MEETINGS IN THE OVAL
OFFICE WITH THE PRESIDENT ON ANY PARTICULAR DATES THAT HAVE BEEN
TESTIFIED BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, THERE WOULD BE A TAPE RECORDING
WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THAT FULL CONVERSATION, WOULD THERE NOT?
>> Butterfield: YES, SIR.
>> Nixon: HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED?
>> Dean: I WOULD SAY THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COST... A
MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
>> Nixon: YOU COULD GET A MILLION DOLLARS, AND YOU COULD
GET IT IN CASH.
I KNOW WHERE IT COULD BE GOTTEN.
>> Stahl: IT DAWNED ON ALL OF US IN THE PRESS CORPS THAT THERE
MIGHT BE A RECORD OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID.
THAT WE WOULD KNOW IF JOHN DEAN HAD LIED OR NOT.
>> Ben-Veniste: JOHN DEAN WAS CORROBORATED IN CHAPTER AND
VERSE WITHOUT ANY KIND OF MATERIAL DEVIATION BY THE TAPES
THAT NIXON HAD SECRETLY MADE AND WHICH JOHN DEAN DID NOT KNOW
EXISTED.
>> Dean: I BEGAN BY TELLING THE PRESIDENT THAT THERE WAS A
CANCER GROWING ON THE PRESIDENCY AND IF THE CANCER WAS NOT
REMOVED, THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF WOULD BE KILLED BY IT.
I THINK THAT... THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF
THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT.
WE HAVE A CANCER WITHIN, CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENCY, THAT'S
GROWING.
IT'S GROWING DAILY.
>> Ben-Veniste: THE TAPES VERIFIED EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS
TESTIFYING TO.
>> Nixon: GET EHRLICHMAN IN.
>> Butterfield: I THOUGHT THE PRESIDENT MIGHT BE A
LITTLE BIT INTIMIDATED BY KNOWING THAT THESE REELS ARE
GOING ALL THE TIME, BUT HE NEVER DID SEEM TO BE.
>> Nixon: WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH THESE CLOWNS?
>> Butterfield: I CERTAINLY DIDN'T KNOW, WHEN I WENT TO THE
WHITE HOUSE, THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PUT UP WITH WHAT I DID.
IT WAS, IN FACT, IN MANY WAYS A CESSPOOL.
YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT SORT OF SKULLDUGGERY MIGHT BE THE ORDER
OF THE DAY.
>> Nixon: NEVER STRIKE A KING UNLESS YOU KILL HIM.
THEY STRUCK AND DID NOT KILL.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO KILL THEM.
I DON'T CARE WHAT IT COSTS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE KILLED.
>> Stahl: IT WAS SO BIG-- THE IDEA THAT EVERYTHING THAT
HAD BEEN TESTIFIED TO, THAT WE'D BEEN LISTENING TO, WAS GOING TO
BE PROVED, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THIS WAS THE DAGGER RIGHT AT NIXON'S THROAT.
>> Herman Talmadge: WHEN YOU FOUND OUT ALL THESE CRIMES AND
CONSPIRACIES AND COVER-UPS WERE BEING COMMITTED, WHY ON EARTH
DIDN'T YOU WALK IN THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND TELL HIM
THE TRUTH?
>> John Mitchell: WELL, IT WASN'T A QUESTION OF TELLING
THE TRUTH.
IT WAS THE QUESTION OF NOT INVOLVING HIM AT ALL.
>> Talmadge: ALL AROUND HIM WERE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CRIME,
PERJURY, ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT, AND YOU DELIBERATELY
REFUSED TO TELL HIM THAT.
>> Mitchell: SENATOR, I THINK YOU PUT IT EXACTLY CORRECT.
>> Announcer: FROM CBS NEWS WASHINGTON, LIVE COVERAGE OF THE
WATERGATE HEARINGS.
>> Ben Bradlee: I MEAN, MY GOD, ONCE THE HEARINGS STARTED, I
COULD WALK FROM MY OFFICE TO THE CAPITOL AND NEVER MISS A BEAT IN
THE TELEVISION HEARINGS.
>> Nelson Benton: GOOD MORNING.
ON THIS FIFTH DAY...
>> Bradlee: I COULD HEAR IT.
I COULD HEAR RADIO IN THE CABS.
I COULD SEE IT IN OFFICES.
IT OVERWHELMED THE CITY.
BECAUSE IT WAS SO INTERESTING.
THE ABUSE OF POWER IS A WONDERFUL STORY.
>> Howard Baker: JUST WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW, AND WHEN DID
HE FIRST KNOW IT?
>> GET YOUR WATERGATE HEARINGS.
READ IT RIGHT HERE.
>> Stahl: EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT ALMOST NOTHING ELSE, ONCE THOSE
HEARINGS STARTED.
>> Gore Vidal: I HAVE TO HAVE MY WATERGATE FIX EVERY SINGLE
MORNING IN THE PAPER.
I-- I GET LIKE THIS IF I HAVEN'T GOT...
>> Dick Cavett: THERE ARE-- THERE ARE WATERGATE JUNKIES ALL
OVER...
>> Stahl: THERE WAS SO MUCH HUMOR THAT CAME OUT, JUST FROM
WATCHING THE HEARINGS.
>> Johnny Carson: THEY CAME OUT WITH A NEW DOLL...
WANDA WATERGATE!
( LAUGHS ) AND THE WAY WANDA WORKS IS,
WHENEVER SHE WETS, SHE TRIES TO COVER IT UP.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stahl: AND EVERYBODY IN THE
COUNTRY HAD AN OPINION.
>> I THINK NIXON SHOULD RESIGN AND SAVE HIS FAMILY AND THE
COUNTRY THE EMBARRASSMENT.
THAT'S ALL.
>> I BELIEVE IN MY PRESIDENT.
I THINK HE'S A WONDERFUL MAN, AND I THINK HE'LL GO ON TO PROVE
THAT HE IS.
>> Nixon: I SEE THIS LAST SIGN, "I BELIEVE IN NIXON AND
AMERICA."
LET ME TELL YOU... I BELIEVE IN YOU.
EVERY ONE OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> Bernstein: NIXON WAS TRULY A TRAGIC FIGURE.
HERE WAS SOMEONE WHO, ALL HIS LIFE, WANTED TO BE THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> Woodward: HE DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE, AND WINNING WAS AT
ANY COST.
>> Bernstein: AND TO SCREW YOUR POLITICAL ENEM-- ENEMIES.
>> Woodward: YES.
>> Nixon: WE'RE UP AGAINST AN ENEMY.
A CONSPIRACY.
THEY'RE USING ANY MEANS.
WE ARE GOING TO USE ANY MEANS.
IS THAT CLEAR?
>> Cronkite: I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THAT
RICHARD NIXON WAS PARANOID, ABOUT ENEMIES.
HE SAW THEM EVERYWHERE.
THIS WAS- HE-- HE LIVED IN A KIND OF AN ATMOSPHERE OF-- OF
"ME VS. THEM."
YOU COULD SEE IT IN HIS EYES.
HE-- HIS EYES WERE KIND OF SHIFTING, AS IF THEY'RE THERE,
THEY'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE WALLS, THEY'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE ROOM.
>> Nixon: NEVER FORGET, THE PRESS IS THE ENEMY.
THE ESTABLISHMENT IS THE ENEMY.
THE PROFESSORS ARE THE ENEMY.
WRITE THAT ON A BLACKBOARD 100 TIMES, AND NEVER FORGET IT.
>> Frank Gannon: WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WATERGATE, THEY
ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR ADMINISTRATION USED THE INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE TO-- TO HARASS PEOPLE, AND HOW YOU EVEN HAD A--
A WRITTEN-DOWN ENEMIES LIST, OF OPPONENTS TO GO AFTER AND
HURT.
>> Nixon: EVERY ADMINISTRATION HAS ITS FRIENDS AND ITS ENEMIES.
WE ALWAYS DIVIDE PRESS, EVERYBODY ELSE, UP IN THOSE
CATEGORIES.
YOU REWARD YOUR FRIENDS AND PUNISH YOUR ENEMIES IF YOU CAN.
>> Stahl: ONE OF JOHN DEAN'S REVELATIONS WAS THAT THERE WAS
AN ENEMIES LIST-- THAT NIXON ACTUALLY HAD AN ENEMIES LIST.
I THINK THERE WERE 20 NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT RICHARD NIXON WANTED
THE I.R.S. TO GO AFTER.
AND THEN, ONE OF THE NAMES WAS DANIEL SCHORR, OUR CBS REPORTER.
>> Schorr: NOW, PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE 20 PEOPLE
DESIGNATED AS WHITE HOUSE ENEMIES...
I WAS ON THE AIR LIVE.
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE I STARTED
READING IT LIVE.
AND I BEGAN TO READ DOWN THE LIST, UNTIL I CAME TO NUMBER 17.
...17th, DANIEL SCHORR OF THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM IN
WASHINGTON.
THE NOTE HERE IS, "A REAL MEDIA ENEMY."
NUMBER 18...
>> Nixon: THANK YOU.
>> Chapin: I WOULD IMAGINE EVERY PRESIDENT HAS AN ENEMIES LIST.
NIXON'S GOT MORE ATTENTION AND PUBLICITY.
>> Nixon: I WANT, BOB, MORE USE OF WIRETAPPING.
>> Chapin: I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE ARE IN POLITICAL LIFE.
THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO END THEIR POLITICAL LIFE.
>> Nixon: MAYBE WE CAN GET A REAL SCANDAL ON ANY-- ANY-- ANY
ONE OF THE LEADING DEMOCRATS.
>> FOUR MORE YEARS!
FOUR MORE YEARS!
>> Woodward: NIXON AND HIS TEAM FOUND THE SOFT SPOT IN THE
AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM.
WE'RE GOING TO PICK WHO NIXON RUNS AGAINST.
>> Dash: NEVER BEFORE, I THINK, IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN
POLITICS, HAS ONE PARTY ACTUALLY CHOSEN THE CANDIDATE OF THE
OTHER PARTY.
YOU KNOW, YOU TRY TO DESTROY THE FRONT RUNNER.
BUT IN THIS CASE, THEY DID IT WITH SUCH FRAUDULENT MEANS.
>> Colson: McGOVERN WAS THE CANDIDATE THAT-- BEGINNING IN
JANUARY, WHEN I WAS TRACKING ALL THE POLLS AND WOULD STUDY
THE POLL DATA DAILY, HE WAS THE ONE CANDIDATE THAT WE WANTED
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BUT NEVER DREAMT COULD EVER GET
NOMINATED.
>> Wallace: WHO WAS THE GUY THAT YOU FEARED?
>> Colson: MUSKIE.
MUSKIE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT CANDIDATE FOR
NIXON TO DEFEAT.
>> Edmund Muskie: LET'S PICK A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT WHO'S
GOT THE BEST CHANCE TO BEAT NIXON.
AND I THINK THAT CANDIDATE IS ME.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Woodward: THEY HIRED A BUNCH
OF SABOTEURS AND SPIES TO DISRUPT THE MUSKIE CAMPAIGN.
>> Reporter: MR. SEGRETTI, CAN YOU STOP TO TALK WITH US
JUST A MOMENT?
>> Donald Segretti: I GOT A CALL, OUT OF THE BLUE...
>> Wallace: FROM?
>> Segretti: DWIGHT CHAPIN.
WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO WORK IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR
RICHARD NIXON.
THE '72 ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
>> Wallace: AND WHAT THEY REALLY WANTED YOU TO DO WAS... ?
>> Segretti: DIRTY TRICKS.
>> Chapin: WHEN I MET WITH DON, THE IDEA THAT I GOT ACROSS TO
HIM WAS, LET'S HAVE THESE DEMOCRATS THINK THAT ONE OF THE
OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IS THE ONE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM
FOR THEM.
IT WAS KIND OF THE SOWING OF SEEDS OF DISCONTENT AMONG THE
RIVALS THAT WERE GOING AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
>> Bernstein: THEY EVEN HAD ON THEIR PAYROLL SENATOR MUSKIE'S
CHAUFFEUR.
IMAGINE THIS.
AND THE CHAUFFEUR HAD ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT THE MUSKIE
CAMPAIGN HAD GENERATED, AND ALL OF THIS MATERIAL WENT BACK
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> Woodward: ONE OF THE REALLY NASTY, UGLY THINGS THEY DID IS,
THEY GOT MUSKIE STATIONERY, AND THEN THEY PUT OUT A FALSE
PRESS RELEASE, IN WHICH IT LOOKED LIKE MUSKIE WAS ACCUSING
OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, SAYING THEY WERE INVOLVED IN
ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY.
>> Berl Bernhard: IT WAS A LETTER WIDELY DISSEMINATED,
ACCUSING SENATORS HUBERT HUMPHREY AND SCOOP JACKSON OF
SEXUAL AND ALCOHOLIC MISCONDUCT.
>> Wallace: IT SAID THAT HE HAD AN ILLEGITIMATE DAUGHTER NAMED
MARY ANN CRAMER BORN FEBRUARY 7, 1929, ETCETERA, ETCETERA,
ETCETERA.
>> Segretti: THAT'S TOTALLY FALLACIOUS.
NONE OF IT WAS TRUE.
>> Wallace: AND YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?
>> Segretti: I WAS INVOLVED IN IT, YES.
>> Bernhard: WHAT IT ENDED UP WITH WAS PITTING THE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES ANGRILY AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
THEY DESTROYED THE ONE CENTRIST CANDIDATE WHO HAD THE GREATEST
POSSIBILITY OF BEATING PRESIDENT NIXON IN THE FALL.
IT, IN MY JUDGMENT, DEPRIVED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF A LEGITIMATE
CHOICE.
>> Muskie: THESE REPORTS OF WRONGDOING BY THE WHITE HOUSE
STAFF ARE SO SERIOUS THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD TELL US WHETHER
HE CONDONES THIS KIND OF POLITICAL ESPIONAGE OPERATION.
>> Colson: THE BIGGEST NEGATIVE TO THE WATERGATE, IN MY MIND:
EVENTUALLY, IT'S GOING TO COME OUT.
THERE'S JUST TOO DAMN MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.
>> Nixon: OH, SURE, THE WHOLE GODDAMN STORY IS GOING TO
COME OUT.
>> Woodward: HE LOST THE BATTLE WITH HISTORY BECAUSE OF THOSE
TAPES.
HE WILL NEVER ESCAPE THEM.
THOSE TAPES ARE LIKE AN IRON RIGHT AROUND HIS NECK.
>> Benton: SO FAR, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS NOT ANSWERED THE
QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL MAKE TAPES CONCERNING WATERGATE
CONVERSATIONS AVAILABLE TO THE COMMITTEE.
>> Mudd: AFTER MONTHS OF TALK, THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS
TONIGHT ARE ACTUALLY ON A COLLISION COURSE.
THE ISSUE IS EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, WHICH MR. NIXON TODAY
INVOKED WHEN HE TOLD BOTH THE ERVIN COMMITTEE AND PROSECUTOR
ARCHIBALD COX THAT HE WILL NOT GIVE THEM ANY WHITE HOUSE
RECORDINGS.
>> Ervin: IF YOU NOTICE, THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'S HEARD THE
TAPES, OR SOME OF THEM, AND THEY SUSTAIN HIS POSITION.
BUT HE SAYS HE'S NOT GOING TO LET ANYBODY ELSE HEAR THEM,
FOR FEAR THEY MIGHT DRAW A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION.
( LAUGHTER ) I WAS IN HOPES THAT THE
PRESIDENT WILL ACCEDE TO THE REQUEST OF THIS COMMITTEE FOR
THESE TAPES AND THESE PAPERS.
>> Dash: THE INVESTIGATION WAS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
OBVIOUSLY, PRESIDENT NIXON WAS FEELING THE HEAT.
I THINK IT WAS SENATOR BAKER WHO SAID, TO SENATOR ERVIN,
"SAM, WHY DON'T YOU CALL THE PRESIDENT."
WE'RE ALL SITTING IN SENATOR ERVIN'S OFFICE, AND WE COULD
ONLY HEAR ONE SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION.
AND THEN SUDDENLY, ERVIN'S FACE GOT FLUSHED.
"WELL, WELL, NO, MR. PRESIDENT.
NO.
WE'RE NOT OUT TO GET YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
NO, MR. PRES-- WE JUST WANT TO GET AT THE FACTS.
MR. PRES-- WE'RE NOT OUT TO GET YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, NO."
AND HIS FACE WAS GETTING FLUSHER AND FLUSHER.
AND HE FINALLY HUNG UP.
AND HE TURNED TO US, AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT THE
PRESIDENT WAS YELLING ON THE PHONE TO ME?
'YOU'RE OUT TO GET ME!
YOU'RE OUT TO GET ME!
YOU'RE OUT TO GET ME'!"
>> Diane Sawyer: YOU DON'T EVEN SIT SOMETIMES AND THINK TO
YOURSELF, "WHY DIDN'T I BURN THOSE TAPES?"
>> Nixon: I MUST GET A-- OH, A HALF A DOZEN LETTERS A WEEK,
EVEN NOW.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU BURN THE TAPES?" AND THE ANSWER IS, OF COURSE,
I SHOULD.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.
BUT THE MAIN POINT IS, THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN STARTED.
I NEVER EVEN DREAMED THAT THE TAPES WOULD EVER COME OUT,
EXCEPT HISTORICALLY.
AND, IF I HAD, OF COURSE, I-- I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING
WATERGATE ON THE TAPES.
WHAT'S THE SITUATION?
IS JULIE HERE?
>> Stephen Bull: SHE'LL BE HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.
I LEARNED ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE TAPING SYSTEM WHEN
ALEX BUTTERFIELD LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE.
MY TITLE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, I GUESS OFFICIALLY, WAS SPECIAL
ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT.
ESSENTIALLY, I RAN THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ALONE IN THE OVAL OFFICE WITH THE
PRESIDENT.
I PROBABLY SAW HIM 20 TIMES A DAY.
>> Nixon: YEAH.
>> Operator: MR. BULL.
>> Bull: YES, SIR.
>> Nixon: HI, STEVE.
HAVE YOU GOT THAT THING WORKED OUT?
>> Bull: I DON'T THINK THE PRESIDENT EVER LISTENED TO A
TAPE, UNTIL THE SENATE WATERGATE COMMITTEE HAD GONE
INTO BUSINESS.
AND A SUBPOENA WAS ISSUED FOR, I DON'T KNOW, SIX OR SEVEN OR
EIGHT CONVERSATIONS.
SO THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO HEAR WHAT WOULD BE ON THE TAPE.
AND IT FELL TO ME TO FIND THE TAPE.
I'LL HAVE IT, PROBABLY IN FIVE TO TEN MINUTES, AND I'LL BRING
IT OVER AND SET IT UP.
>> Nixon: YOU CAN SET IT UP OVER HERE, CAN YOU?
>> Bull: YES, SIR.
>> Nixon: WELL, YOU GET IT RIGHT OVER BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO...
LISTEN TO A LOT OF CRAP, AND I JUST WANT TO GET IT OVER WITH AS
FAST AS I CAN.
>> Bull: YES, SIR.
>> Rather: GOOD EVENING.
THE PRESIDENT WILL ADDRESS THE NATION FROM HIS OVAL OFFICE IN
THE WHITE HOUSE WEST WING.
>> Nixon: IF I WERE TO MAKE PUBLIC THESE TAPES, CONTAINING
AS THEY DO BLUNT AND CANDID REMARKS ON MANY DIFFERENT
SUBJECTS, THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT WOULD ALWAYS BE SUSPECT, FROM NOW ON.
>> Rather: PRESIDENT NIXON'S PLAN TO CONTINUE PREVENTING
INVESTIGATORS FROM HEARING THE WATERGATE TAPES HAS RUN INTO
TROUBLE.
THE PRESIDENT ORDERED SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ARCHIBALD COX TO
STOP TRYING FOR ACCESS TO THE TAPES AND OTHER RECORDS.
>> Ben-Veniste: THE TENSION CREATED BY OUR DEMAND FOR THE
TAPES PUT EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE ON ARCHIBALD COX.
>> Archibald Cox: I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A CONFRONTATION.
AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT OUT TO "GET" THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
>> Fred Graham: COX SAID HE WILL GO TO COURT, PROBABLY THIS
COMING WEEK, WHERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE NATION'S
HISTORY, A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR WILL ATTEMPT TO HOLD A PRESIDENT
IN CONTEMPT OF COURT.
>> Ben-Veniste: RICHARD NIXON KNEW HE WAS IN TROUBLE WITH AN
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.
AND HE NEEDED TO PUT AN END TO IT.
>> Announcer: THIS IS A SPECIAL REPORT.
>> Rather: THIS MAN IS NO LONGER ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
THE UNITED STATES.
THIS MAN IS NO LONGER DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
UNITED STATES.
AND THIS MAN, THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IN THE WATERGATE
AFFAIR?
THIS MAN HAS BEEN FIRED, UNDER ORDERS ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> Stahl: THIS WAS A SCANDAL.
BEYOND THE RULE OF LAW.
THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE.
>> Guard: PLEASE, EVERYONE...
>> Rather: THE F.B.I., ACTING UPON ORDERS FROM THE PRESIDENT,
SEALED OFF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
>> Thomas McBride: OUR OFFICES HAVE BEEN SEALED BY THE F.B.I..
>> Reporter: HOW MANY?
>> McBride: SIX F.B.I. AGENTS PRESENT.
>> Henry Ruth: I MUST SAY, I SUPPOSE, THAT HUMAN EMOTIONS
TAKE OVER IN THIS KIND OF OCCASION.
BECAUSE ONE THINKS THAT, IN A DEMOCRACY, MAYBE, THIS WOULD
NOT HAPPEN.
AND THAT MAYBE WE COULD PROCEED, IN GOOD FAITH, TO PROSECUTE
THOSE WHO HAVE VIOLATED THE CRIMINAL LAW.
APPARENTLY, THAT IS NOT TO BE THE CASE.
>> Stahl: THE PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO SEND F.B.I. AGENTS TO THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
NOW WE'RE BEGINNING TO THINK, MY GOD, IS HE GOING TO CALL OUT
THE ARMY?
IS THIS A MILITARY TAKEOVER OF THE GOVERNMENT?
>> Ben-Veniste: THIS WAS AS CLOSE TO A COUP AS WE HAD EVER
COME IN OUR LIFETIME.
AND REMAINED SO UNTIL JANUARY 6, 2021.
>> Cronkite: SINCE THE FIRING OF WATERGATE PROSECUTOR COX ON
SATURDAY, THE PRESSURE ON PRESIDENT NIXON HAS BEEN
BUILDING.
>> Bob Schieffer: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WATERGATE BECAME AN
ISSUE, THERE IS NOW SOME SERIOUS TALK OF IMPEACHMENT.
>> Bruce Morton: TELEGRAMS FLOODED INTO WASHINGTON.
SO DID CALLS.
WESTERN UNION AND THE CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD, BOTH HIRED
EXTRA HELP.
>> Bernstein: THE FIRESTORM CREATED BY THIS, MADE IT
APPARENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND TO SO MUCH OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT, YES, EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE WRITING ABOUT,
THERE WAS A COVER-UP GOING ON TO HIDE SOMETHING THAT WAS OF AWFUL
MAGNITUDE.
>> Ben-Veniste: THIS WAS BIG.
SO WHY DID NIXON DO IT?
"HE MUST BE HIDING SOMETHING" WAS THE ONLY LOGICAL CONCLUSION.
AND IN FACT, HE WAS.
>> Cronkite: REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS REPORTED THAT
PRESIDENT NIXON ASSURED THEM PRIVATELY YESTERDAY, THAT HE
KNEW OF NO NEW WATERGATE BOMBS WAITING TO GO OFF.
WELL, TODAY ANOTHER ONE DID GO OFF, IN THE FEDERAL COURTROOM OF
JUDGE JOHN SIRICA.
>> Fred Graham: AN 18-MINUTE PORTION OF A SUBPOENAED, TAPED
CONVERSATION BETWEEN PRESIDENT NIXON AND H.R. HALDEMAN CONTAINS
NO WORDS, JUST AN AUDIBLE TONE.
( TONE ON TAPE ) THE GAP OCCURRED IN THE CRUCIAL
MEETING BETWEEN HALDEMAN AND MR. NIXON IN THE WHITE HOUSE ON
JUNE 20.
>> Ben-Veniste: WE'RE GOING TO INVESTIGATE FULLY AND COMPLETELY
AS WE'VE INDICATED IN COURT...
THE WHITE HOUSE TRIED TO BLAME THE 18 AND A HALF MINUTES ON
ROSE MARY WOODS.
>> Graham: ROSE MARY WOODS, PRESIDENT NIXON'S PERSONAL
SECRETARY, PLAYED A PORTION OF ONE TAPE TO SHOW HOW SHE HAD
APPARENTLY ERASED PART OF ONE SUBPOENAED CONVERSATION.
>> Stahl: THIS POOR WOMAN, SHE'S MADE TO DEMONSTRATE PHYSICALLY
HOW SHE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE ERASED THE TAPE INADVERTENTLY.
HOW SHE GOT A PHONE CALL AND SHE TURNED AROUND AND TWISTED.
AND THE JUDGE JUST MAKES IT CLEAR HE DOESN'T ACCEPT THIS
AT ALL.
>> Graham: MR. BULL, WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF PREPARING THESE
TRANSCRIPTS OR SUMMARIES BY ROSE MARY WOODS?
>> Bull: I DO NOT KNOW, SIR.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT NEITHER THE PRESIDENT NOR ROSE WOODS HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH MAKING ANY DELIBERATE ERASURES ON A TAPE.
I'M THE ONLY GUY WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN HOW TO DO IT, AND I
DIDN'T.
AFTER THE 18.5-MINUTE GAP HAD BEEN DISCOVERED, I SUPPOSE THE
WALLS REALLY STARTED CLOSING IN.
IT BECAME A VERY CONSTRICTING PERIOD OF TIME.
AND SOME PEOPLE WERE LEAVING.
SOME PEOPLE WERE BEING INDICTED.
AND SO, IT WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY GRIM.
>> Cronkite: THE WATERGATE GRAND JURY TODAY INDICTED SEVEN FORMER
TOP-LEVEL NIXON ADMINISTRATION AND CAMPAIGN AIDES FOR PLOTTING
TO COVER UP THE SCANDAL.
ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE INDICTMENT CONTAINED THE
IMPLICATION THAT PRESIDENT NIXON HIMSELF KNEW ABOUT THE COVER-UP.
>> Rather: THE ACCUSED INCLUDED ALL FOUR OF PRESIDENT NIXON'S
FORMER TOP ADVISORS.
ALL SEVEN OF THE MEN INDICTED TODAY WERE CHARGED WITH
CONSPIRACY.
SOME OF THE CHARGES ALSO INCLUDED PERJURY, LYING UNDER
OATH, AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
>> Stahl: THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO RICHARD NIXON.
HIS CONFIDANTES, THE PEOPLE HE TRUSTED.
THE ONLY PEOPLE HE TRUSTED.
NOW INDICTED.
IT WAS SOMETHING.
WOW.
>> Rather: OVERSHADOWING WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE SEVEN MEN IS
THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHAT DOES TODAY'S DEVELOPMENT
MEAN FOR RICHARD NIXON?
FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IS THE WORST NOW OVER,
OR ONLY BEGINNING?
>> Nixon: THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT IN AMERICA,
BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT A NATION OF QUITTERS.
WE ARE A NATION THAT WILL KEEP FIGHTING ON UNTIL WE SUCCEED.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Rather: RUMORS, SCENARIOS AND
REPORTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT POSSIBLY STEPPING ASIDE OR
STEPPING DOWN, NOW OR LATER, ARE DESCRIBED BY HIS AIDES AS,
"BALONEY."
>> Reporter: AT THIS POINT, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE WAY
PRESIDENT NIXON IS HANDLING THE WATERGATE SITUATION?
>> Goldwater: I THINK HE'S DOING IT ABOUT THE ONLY WAY THAT HE
CAN, WITH NO EVIDENCE AT ALL EVER BEEN POINTED AT HIM OF ANY
WRONGDOING.
MISTAKES IN JUDGEMENTS, YES, BUT, UH, HERE'S A MAN THAT SOME
PEOPLE HAVE JUDGED GUILTY WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE, WHICH IS
CONTRARY TO THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.
>> Rather: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> Nixon: GOOD EVENING.
I HAVE ASKED FOR THIS TIME TONIGHT IN ORDER TO ANNOUNCE MY
ANSWER TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S SUBPOENA FOR
ADDITIONAL WATERGATE TAPES.
IN THESE FOLDERS THAT YOU SEE OVER HERE ON MY LEFT ARE MORE
THAN 1,200 PAGES OF TRANSCRIPTS OF PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS I
PARTICIPATED IN.
THESE TRANSCRIPTS WILL SHOW THAT WHAT I HAVE STATED FROM THE
BEGINNING TO BE THE TRUTH HAS BEEN THE TRUTH.
>> Stahl: SO RICHARD NIXON RELEASES HIS VERSION OF THE
TAPES, TRANSCRIPTS THAT WERE DONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> Cronkite: THE TRANSCRIPTS SUBMITTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE
YESTERDAY ARE NOT THE ENTIRE RECORD WITH MANY PLACES SIMPLY
DESCRIBED AS ¡UNINTELLIGIBLE.' THEY ARE EDITED.
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SUBMITTED ONLY MATERIAL IT CONSIDERS
RELEVANT TO THE WATERGATE INVESTIGATION.
>> Stahl: THE TRANSCRIPTS WERE A COVER-UP.
YOU KNEW IT.
IT BACKFIRED ON HIM, RELEASING HIS VERSION OF THE TAPES BECAUSE
BY THEN, HE HAD A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM.
AND THESE TRANSCRIPTS WERE INCREDIBLE.
>> Graham: IN A LANDMARK DECISION, THE SUPREME COURT
RULED, 8 TO NOTHING, THAT PRESIDENT NIXON MUST TURN OVER
64 SUBPOENAED WHITE HOUSE TAPES.
>> Henry Ruth: FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU REALLY HAD A RULING
THAT A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
THAT THE LAW WILL PREVAIL OVER A PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO KEEP
SOMETHING SECRET, EVEN THOUGH THAT SOMETHING IS QUITE RELEVANT
TO PROVING A CRIME.
>> Peter Rodino: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING¡
AYE.' >> MR. DONOHUE?
>> Harold Donohue: AYE.
>> MR. RANGEL?
>> Charles Rangel: AYE.
>> Cronkite: THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTED TO RECOMMEND
THAT THE HOUSE IMPEACH PRESIDENT NIXON.
IT WAS A SOLEMN MOMENT IN THE COMMITTEE, AS IT VOTED ON THE
FIRST ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT, CHARGING THE PRESIDENT WITH THE
WATERGATE COVER-UP.
>> 27 MEMBERS HAVE VOTED ¡AYE.' 11 MEMBERS HAVE VOTED NO.
>> Rodino: THAT RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND WILL BE REPORTED TO
THE HOUSE.
>> Rather: WITH THE NEW TRANSCRIPTS, THE PRESIDENT
ISSUED A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF HIS OWN.
IN IT, HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WHAT THE TRANSCRIPTS SAY IS, AS MR.
NIXON PUTS IT, "AT VARIANCE" WITH WHAT HE TOLD THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ON OTHER OCCASIONS.
>> Ben-Veniste: THE SO-CALLED "SMOKING GUN" TAPE WAS THE
DENOUEMENT THAT MARKED THE END OF THE NIXON PRESIDENCY.
>> Haldeman: THE F.B.I. IS NOT UNDER CONTROL.
THEIR INVESTIGATION IS NOW LEADING INTO SOME PRODUCTIVE
AREAS.
AND IT GOES IN SOME DIRECTIONS WE DON'T WANT IT TO GO.
>> Ben-Veniste: THAT HE ORDERED TO HAVE THE C.I.A. INTERFERE
WITH THE F.B.I. INVESTIGATION IN ORDER TO DELAY AND PERHAPS
DERAIL THE INVESTIGATION.
>> Haldeman: JUST SAY "STAY THE HELL OUT OF THIS.
THIS IS UH, BUSINESS HERE WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GO ANY FURTHER
ON."
>> Ben-Veniste: HERE WAS A TAPE THAT SHOWED, CONTRARY TO
EVERYTHING NIXON HAD BEEN SAYING, THAT HE KNEW ABOUT THE
COVER-UP FROM THE BEGINNING.
>> Nixon: THEY SHOULD CALL THE F.B.I. IN AND SAY THAT WE WISH
FOR THE COUNTRY, DON'T GO ANY FURTHER INTO THIS CASE," PERIOD!
>> Lano: THE SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE C.I.A.,
CONTACT THE F.B.I. AND SAY, "HEY, CEASE AND DESIST.
UH, YOU'RE OUTSIDE YOUR JURISDICTION."
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED ON THE SPOT.
HE OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE.
>> Stahl: THERE WAS NO WAY HE CULD MOVE FORWARD ONCE THE
SMOKING GUN TAPE CAME OUT AND IT WAS CLEAR HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE
COVER-UP, NO QUESTION WHATSOEVER.
>> Ben-Veniste: HIS PARTY MEMBERS WERE DEVASTATED.
THEY WERE HUNG OUT TO DRY BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN SUPPORTING
NIXON AND HAD BEEN TELLING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO BELIEVE IN
NIXON'S DENIALS.
>> Goldwater: AND I JUST BLEW MY STACK.
I SAID, "THIS IS ALL I'M GOING TO TAKE.
I'M GOING UP AND TALK TO THE PRESIDENT."
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I'D TALK ABOUT, BUT I WAS GOING TO
GO UP AND TALK TO HIM.
WE SAT THERE IN THE OVAL ROOM AND THE PRESIDENT ACTED LIKE HE
JUST PLAYED GOLF AND JUST HAD A HOLE-IN-ONE.
YOU'D NEVER THINK THIS GUY'S TAIL WAS IN A CRACK.
FINALLY HE SAID TO ME, UH..
"BARRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK MY CHANCES ARE IN THE SENATE?"
>> Woodward: GOLDWATER SAYS, "MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE FOUR
VOTES, AND ONE OF THEM IS NOT MINE."
>> Bernstein: THAT'S WHEN NIXON KNEW IT WAS OVER.
WHEN BARRY GOLDWATER SAID ONE OF THEM IS NOT MINE, YOU DO NOT
HAVE MY VOTE.
NIXON KNEW IT WAS OVER.
>> THE MAN IN THAT HIGH AUTHORITY, I FEEL LIKE SHOULD
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.
HE WAS INFORMED SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM!
>> HE HAS UH, SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN
FOUND GUILTY.
HE'S TAKEN THE CRIME OUT OF THE STREETS AND TAKEN IT RIGHT INTO
THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> Dash: NIXON SAID "I'M NOT A CROOK."
IF HE MEANT BY THAT "I DIDN'T STEAL ANY MONEY," YES, HE DIDN'T
STEAL ANY MONEY.
IT WOULD BE BETTER IF HE HAD.
WHAT HE DID WAS WORSE.
HIS BREACH OF TRUST, HIS LYING TO THE PEOPLE, HIS CORRUPTION OF
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT WAS EVEN WORSE.
AND IT BECAME VERY DANGEROUS.
AND I THINK THE PUBLIC WAS ANGRY BECAUSE THEY SAW THE POTENTIAL
OF SUCH A PRESIDENT REALLY DESTROYING DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT.
>> TWO MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS TO AIR PLEASE.
>> Nixon: OLLIE?
NO... ONLY THE CBS CREW NOW IS TO BE IN THIS ROOM, DURING THIS,
ONLY THE CREW.
NO... THERE WILL BE NO PICTURES.
>> Bull: WHILE THE CAMERA CREW WAS SETTING UP, I WALKED WITH
HIM ON HIS WAY TO GIVE THE SPEECH.
I KNEW HIM TO BE A FIGHTER AND THAT HE WOULD FIGHT.
UP UNTIL THE VERY END.
>> Nixon: GOOD EVENING.
IN ALL THE DECISIONS I HAVE MADE IN MY PUBLIC LIFE, I HAVE ALWAYS
TRIED TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE NATION.
>> Bull: UNCHARACTERISTICALLY, HE ASKED MY OPINION AND HE SAID
DO YOU SUPPORT ME?
I SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, I'LL SUPPORT YOU IN ANYTHING YOU WANT
TO DO.
I JUST DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THIS ONE.
IT WAS A VERY GRIM CONCLUSION, I HAD TO COME TO THAT, INDEED, IT
WAS OVER.
>> Nixon: THROUGHOUT THE LONG AND DIFFICULT PERIOD OF
WATERGATE, I HAVE FELT IT WAS MY DUTY TO PERSEVERE, TO MAKE EVERY
POSSIBLE EFFORT TO COMPLETE THE TERM OF OFFICE TO WHICH YOU
ELECTED ME.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN A QUITTER.
TO LEAVE OFFICE BEFORE MY TERM IS COMPLETED IS ABHORRENT TO
EVERY INSTINCT IN MY BODY.
BUT AS PRESIDENT, I MUST PUT THE INTERESTS OF AMERICA FIRST.
THEREFORE, I SHALL RESIGN THE PRESIDENCY, EFFECTIVE AT NOON
TOMORROW.
VICE PRESIDENT FORD WILL BE SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT AT THAT
HOUR IN THIS OFFICE.
>> Chapin: THE TEARS WERE CASCADING DOWN MY FACE.
IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC, VERY SAD.
BUT I BELIEVE HE ACTED AS A PATRIOT.
>> Deborah Sloan: HE HAD AN AMAZING LEGACY AND NOW HIS
LEGACY WAS GOING TO BE WATERGATE.
AND TO ME, THAT WAS JUST INCREDIBLY SAD.
>> Stahl: HAVING TO COME BEFORE THE PUBLIC, DELIVER THAT SPEECH
WITHOUT BREAKING DOWN.
IT'S SO POWERFUL IN A HUMAN WAY.
>> Nixon: TO HAVE SERVED IN THIS OFFICE IS TO HAVE FELT A VERY
PERSONAL SENSE OF KINSHIP WITH EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN.
>> Stahl: I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW OVER ALL THESE YEARS, I COULD
HAVE AN EMOTIONAL REACTION THAT I DIDN'T HAVE AT THE TIME.
>> Nixon: IN LEAVING IT, I DO SO WITH THIS PRAYER: MAY GOD'S
GRACE BE WITH YOU IN ALL THE DAYS AHEAD.
>> Bull: WHEN THE PRESIDENT FINISHED HIS SPEECH, IT FELL TO
ME TO KIND OF PACK UP SOME PERSONAL BELONGINGS OF HIS.
HE HAD ON HIS DESK A-- I GUESS IT WAS A CIGAR BOX OR SOME SORT
OF A SILVER BOX, AND I PICKED UP THE BOX, NOT MEANING TO OPEN IT,
AND IT'S PLAYING "HAIL TO THE CHIEF."
* ( "HAIL TO THE CHIEF" ) * IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS, IF
IT HAD BEEN A MOVIE, THE CONCLUDING TITLE WOULD SAY "THE
END."
>> Gerald Ford: MY FELLOW AMERICANS, OUR LONG NATIONAL
NIGHTMARE IS OVER.
AS WE BIND UP THE INTERNAL WOUNDS OF WATERGATE, MORE
PAINFUL AND MORE POISONOUS THAN THOSE OF FOREIGN WARS, LET
BROTHERLY LOVE PURGE OUR HEARTS OF SUSPICION AND OF HATE.
>> Rather: I'M DAN RATHER.
PRESIDENT FORD HAS GRANTED RICHARD NIXON A "FULL, FREE, AND
ABSOLUTE PARDON FOR ALL OFFENSES THE FORMER PRESIDENT COMMITTED,
OR MAY HAVE COMMITTED WHILE IN OFFICE."
>> Ford: MY CONCERN IS THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF THIS GREAT
COUNTRY.
>> Woodward: YOU CALLED ME UP, AND LET ME QUOTE, I'LL NEVER
FORGET WHAT YOU SAID, "HAVE YOU HEARD?"
I SAID, "NO, I WAS ASLEEP.
THE SON OF A BITCH PARDONED THE SON OF A BITCH."
>> Bernstein: WE THOUGHT AT THE BEGINNING THAT IT WAS A TERRIBLE
ACT AGAINST THE NATIONAL INTEREST.
>> Lano: I FELT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY STOOD IN THE WELL
WITH THE MITCHELL, HALDEMAN AND EHRLICHMAN AND COLSON.
BECAUSE HE INTERFERED WITH THE INVESTIGATION.
>> Rather: FOR MYSELF, THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, OUR SENSE OF
JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY, EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW, DEMANDS
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IN THIS CASE THERE'S BEEN NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> Woodward: WE HAD IT WRONG.
>> Bernstein: HE KNEW IF HE DID THIS IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, HE WOULD
LOSE THE PRESIDENCY IN THE NEXT ELECTION, WHICH OF COURSE
HAPPENED.
UNIQUE, PROBABLY IN OUR HISTORY, THAT A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES WOULD MAKE THAT SACRIFICE.
>> Ford: MY CONSCIENCE TELLS ME THAT ONLY I AS PRESIDENT HAVE
THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO FIRMLY SHUT AND SEAL THIS BOOK.
>> Stahl: I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HEROIC ACTS IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
HE DIDN'T PUT HIS FUTURE FIRST.
HE PUT THE HEALING OF THE COUNTRY FIRST.
>> Rather: THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND WEEKS,
HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH EXTRAORDINARY DAYS.
TODAY WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT HISTORIANS WILL BE WRITING ABOUT
AND THINKING ABOUT FOR YEARS TO COME.
>> Bernstein: IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THE ROLE
OF REPUBLICANS IN WATERGATE AND COMPARE THE ROLE OF REPUBLICANS
TODAY IN THE DONALD TRUMP SITUATION, BECAUSE HERE YOU HAVE
TWO PRESIDENTS UNIQUE IN OUR HISTORY, WHO SOUGHT TO UNDERMINE
THE VERY BASIS OF DEMOCRACY IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> USA!
USA!
>> Trump: YOU CAN'T EVER ACCEPT WHEN THEY STEAL AND RIG AND ROB.
YOU CAN'T ACCEPT.
>> Stahl: I SEE PARALLELS ALL THE TIME.
NIXON WAS DARK AND PARANOID.
THAT CREATED TURMOIL IN THE COUNTRY.
TRUMP, CONSPIRATORIAL.
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ABSORBED THAT AND MADE IT THEM.
DO YOU TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COUNTRY BEING DIVIDED
AGAINST ITSELF?
>> Trump: I'D LIKE NOT TO, BUT WHEN PEOPLE PUT OUT PHONY WITCH
HUNTS, WHEN THEY SPY ON YOUR CAMPAIGN, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT
BACK.
>> Stahl: ALL THROUGH THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, I KEPT COMPARING
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY TO WHAT WAS GOING ON THEN.
THE QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH IN OUR INSTITUTION, BOTH TIMES, WAS
ALWAYS PROMINENT.
>> Liz Cheney: I SAY THIS, TO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO ARE
DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE.
THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN DONALD TRUMP IS GONE, BUT YOUR
DISHONOR WILL REMAIN.
>> Hugh Sloan: THE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT ULTIMATELY WORKED
TO EXPOSE WATERGATE AND BRING JUSTICE, IF YOU WILL.
I'M NOT SURE ALL THOSE MECHANISMS WOULD WORK TODAY IF
PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, AND WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT POINT AS
FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
>> Deborah Sloan: AT THE VERY END, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WENT
TO THE PRESIDENT AND SAID YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO
RESIGN, YOU HAVE LOST THE FAITH OF THE PEOPLE.
IN THOSE DAYS YOU HAD PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR COUNTRY ABOVE THEIR
PARTY.
>> Goldwater: MR. NIXON HURT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HE HURT
AMERICA.
FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD EVER BE FORGIVEN.
HE CAME AS CLOSE TO DESTROYING THIS COUNTRY AS ANY ONE MAN IN
THAT OFFICE EVER HAS COME.
>> Bull: ON AUGUST 9th, PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME OF HIS
RESIGNATION, THE PRESIDENT GAVE AN ADDRESS TO THE STAFF IN THE
EAST ROOM OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC HAD REALLY SEEN
RICHARD NIXON, THE MAN.
>> Nixon: SURE, WE HAVE DONE SOME THINGS WRONG IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION, AND THE TOP MAN ALWAYS TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY,
AND I HAVE NEVER DUCKED IT.
NO MAN OR NO WOMAN EVER PROFITED AT THE PUBLIC EXPENSE.
MISTAKES, YES.
BUT FOR PERSONAL GAIN, NEVER.
>> Stahl: THE WAY THIS IS SHOT, YOU'RE WATCHING PAT NIXON.
SHE LOOKS NUMB.
THE WOMAN LOOKS NUMB.
>> Nixon: ALWAYS GIVE YOUR BEST, NEVER GET DISCOURAGED, NEVER BE
PETTY.
>> Woodward: THAT IS SUCH AN AMAZING MOMENT IN PRESIDENTIAL
HISTORY.
>> Bernstein: IT WAS A KIND OF SELF EXAMINATION AND TOUR OF HIS
PSYCHE.
>> Nixon: ALWAYS REMEMBER, OTHERS MAY HATE YOU, BUT THOSE
WHO HATE YOU DON'T WIN UNLESS YOU HATE THEM, AND THEN YOU
DESTROY YOURSELF.
>> Woodward: THAT SENSE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF HATE AND
THE SELF AND NIXON'S CLEAR, MAYBE MOMENTARY, MAYBE ETERNAL
REALIZATION OF THAT IS STUNNING.
>> Chapin: LET ME SAY THIS, THE INDICTMENTS HANDED DOWN TODAY
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY WORK WHILE I WAS IN THE EMPLOY OF THE
ADMINISTRATION.
I HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN THE PRESIDENT, I HAD IT WHEN I TOOK
MY JOB AS A YOUNG MAN WHEN I WAS 28, AND I HAVE IT TODAY.
I WENT TO PRISON FOR NINE MONTHS BECAUSE SOMEBODY THOUGHT I MADE
FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS, AND MY WORD IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TO ME.
I DO MY VERY BEST TO BE AS TRUTHFUL AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
AND THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HELP TAKE CARE OF HOW HISTORY JUDGES
ME.
>> Hoback Miller: I'M REALLY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF
HISTORY.
I THINK IT'S SAVED OUR DEMOCRACY THEN, AT THIS POINT, I'M REALLY
PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT.
>> Senator Ervin: YOUR TESTIMONY AND YOUR FORTHRIGHTNESS HAVE
RENEWED MY FAITH IN THE OLD ADAGE THAT AN HONEST MAN IS THE
NOBLEST WORK OF GOD.
>> Senator Baker: WERE YOU AWARE OF ANY DEVICES THAT WERE
INSTALLED IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING OF THE
PRESIDENT?
>> Butterfield: YES, SIR.
I THINK I MAY HAVE DONE A SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.
IT WAS A SHAME, THAT HIS PRESIDENCY HAD TO END WITH A
RESIGNATION, BUT IT WAS A GOOD THING.
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING.
IT WAS JUSTICE.
JUSTICE SERVED.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stahl: THIS IMAGE IS SO
POWERFUL, ACTUALLY.
IT IS A MOMENT OF DEFIANCE, IN A WAY.
HA!
I'M NOT FINISHED YET.
BUT HE WAS.
>> Bull: RICHARD NIXON HAD BEEN MOVED FROM THE LOWEST POINT TO
THE HIGHEST POINT, AND ACHIEVED SO MUCH IN HIS PRESIDENCY.
AND THEN THE BALLOON POPPED.
>> Nixon: TO THOSE WHO SAY, "WILL YOU APOLOGIZE?
ARE YOU SORRY?" THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU COULD
APOLOGIZE THAT IS MORE ELOQUENT, MORE DECISIVE, MORE FINITE,
WHICH WOULD EXCEED RESIGNING THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT SAID IT ALL, AND I DON'T INTEND TO SAY ANY MORE.