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- Good evening.
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The men who worked closest
to Richard Nixon
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in the White House
and in politics,
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today, were sentenced to prison
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for their role
in the Watergate cover-up.
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Former Attorney General
John Mitchell...
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- Anybody puts
one of those near me
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I'm gonna knock it down
his throat.
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- White House Chief of Staff,
H.R. Bob Haldeman...
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00:00:18,366 --> 00:00:21,846
- I'm prepared now
to accept the results.
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- Mr. Nixon's Domestic Affairs
Counselor, John Ehrlichman.
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- Give each other room, man.
- Yes, sir.
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- All were sentenced to
at least 2 1/2 years in prison.
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00:00:45,697 --> 00:00:48,527
- I want it implemented
on a thievery basis.
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Goddammit,
get in and get those files.
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Blow the safe and get it.
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We're up against an enemy.
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A conspiracy.
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They're using any means.
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We are going to use any means.
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- We have a mystery story
out of Washington.
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Five people have been arrested
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and charged with
breaking into the headquarters
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of the
Democratic National Committee
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in the middle of the night.
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- Police confiscated
extensive photographic
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and electronic
eavesdropping gear
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as well as
several thousand dollars
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in consecutively
numbered bills.
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- Please get me the names
of the Jews.
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Big Jewish contributors
to the Democrats.
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Could we please
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investigate some of
the cocksuckers.
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- Mr. President.
- Mr. Rather.
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- I wonder if you could
share with us your thoughts.
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Tell us what goes
through your mind...
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when you hear people--
people who love this country
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and people
who believe in you...
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say reluctantly that
perhaps you should resign
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or be impeached.
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- Well, I'm glad we don't take
the vote of this room,
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let me say.
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Uh...
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male narrator: The presidency
of Richard Nixon
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was in many ways a reaction
to a nation in chaos.
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By 1967, protest movements,
racial tension,
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and the Vietnam War
were tearing America apart.
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Vietnam threatened to dominate
the 1968 presidential election
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dividing the country
into hawks and doves.
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00:03:06,142 --> 00:03:08,542
Over a million Americans
had been drafted.
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00:03:08,579 --> 00:03:10,489
There were 1/2 million troops
in Vietnam...
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00:03:10,538 --> 00:03:13,368
and over 20,000 Americans
had already been killed.
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00:03:19,982 --> 00:03:22,722
- If America's soul
becomes totally poisoned...
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part of the autopsy
must read Vietnam.
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- My people are being clobbered
and stoned.
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And then they will turn around
and send us to war.
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For what?
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- What we do know is
that our military situation
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has substantially improved.
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00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,400
And then came 1968,
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starting with
the Tet Offensive in Vietnam,
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which turned millions
of Americans against the war.
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- The Viet Cong
simultaneously attacked
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just about every major city
and town in South Vietnam.
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Much of the destruction
was caused by Viet Cong
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but much of it was also caused
by United States bombs.
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An American officer said
it had been necessary
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to destroy the city
to save it.
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00:04:09,118 --> 00:04:11,558
- To say that we are closer
to victory today
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is to believe
in the face of the evidence
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00:04:14,079 --> 00:04:16,779
the optimists who have
been wrong in the past.
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The 1968 presidential campaign
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mirrored America's chaos.
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- I shall not seek...
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00:04:24,133 --> 00:04:27,483
and I will not accept
the nomination of my party
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00:04:27,528 --> 00:04:29,788
for another term
as your president.
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00:04:29,834 --> 00:04:32,014
- The Reverend
Martin Luther King Jr.
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was shot to death
by an assassin late today
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as he stood on a balcony
in Memphis, Tennessee.
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- Everybody out!
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- Oh, no.
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- Senator
Robert Francis Kennedy...
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died at 1:44AM.
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He was 42-years-old.
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After Robert
Kennedy's assassination...
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Vice President Hubert Humphrey
won the democratic nomination
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but the antiwar movement
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wouldn't let Humphrey
off the hook
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00:04:59,951 --> 00:05:02,301
and at the 1968
Democratic Convention,
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00:05:02,345 --> 00:05:04,295
police beatings
of antiwar demonstrators
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00:05:04,347 --> 00:05:06,177
tore the Democratic Party
apart.
92
00:05:06,218 --> 00:05:09,218
- A noisy but non-violent
crowd jammed the streets
93
00:05:09,265 --> 00:05:13,175
as Chicago police charged
suddenly in all directions.
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00:05:13,225 --> 00:05:16,095
They jabbed night sticks
into stomachs and skulls,
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battering demonstrators
and bystanders
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who were hopelessly trapped
on sidewalks,
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in panic, with nowhere to run.
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00:05:23,323 --> 00:05:25,373
Racist former
Alabama Governor,
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00:05:25,412 --> 00:05:27,852
George Wallace,
ran as a third party candidate
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and carried most
of the traditionally
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democratic south.
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00:05:31,505 --> 00:05:34,895
- But any place you see
the Confederate flag fly,
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you will see people
who will fight with more zeal
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and determination
for the American flag
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than anybody I know.
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With the country
divided and disillusioned
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by Vietnam,
many Americans wanted a savior
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and Nixon promised to be one.
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- My fellow Americans,
the long, dark night
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for America is about to end.
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- Nixon's media image
was carefully packaged
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by a young man
named Roger Ailes,
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00:06:01,099 --> 00:06:02,619
who would later create
FOX News.
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- I pledge to you,
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00:06:04,799 --> 00:06:08,539
we shall have an honorable end
to the war in Vietnam.
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With those promises
and with the Democratic party
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divided and crippled
by Vietnam,
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Nixon won the presidency.
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- The president-elect,
Richard Nixon.
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00:06:19,944 --> 00:06:23,434
- My general opinion was,
he's well qualified.
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00:06:23,470 --> 00:06:27,390
I felt a kind of deep sigh
of relief,
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the Johnson years were over.
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00:06:29,737 --> 00:06:31,427
A chance for the country,
if you will,
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00:06:31,478 --> 00:06:34,348
to take its collective breath
and start over
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00:06:34,394 --> 00:06:38,144
and I was fairly optimistic.
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00:06:38,180 --> 00:06:40,310
But Richard Nixon
hated the privileged,
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00:06:40,356 --> 00:06:43,446
the media, and enemies
both real and imagined.
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Demons that eventually led
to Watergate.
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00:06:46,057 --> 00:06:48,017
The first sign
of possible trouble
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came from
his presidential appointments.
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As National Security Advisor,
Nixon chose
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a brilliant Harvard professor,
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00:06:53,543 --> 00:06:55,373
Henry Kissinger.
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00:06:55,415 --> 00:06:59,415
- We will not be blackmailed
into an agreement.
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00:06:59,462 --> 00:07:01,862
And if I may say so...
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00:07:01,899 --> 00:07:05,289
we will not be charmed
into an agreement...
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00:07:05,337 --> 00:07:09,297
until its conditions
are right.
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00:07:09,341 --> 00:07:10,521
For Attorney General,
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00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:12,210
Nixon chose his friend
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00:07:12,257 --> 00:07:13,867
and campaign manager,
John Mitchell.
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00:07:13,911 --> 00:07:15,521
A hardliner
on law and order,
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00:07:15,565 --> 00:07:17,475
drugs, and Vietnam.
143
00:07:17,524 --> 00:07:21,184
- They spread the idea
that any act,
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00:07:21,223 --> 00:07:25,793
no matter how monstrous,
is justifiable
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00:07:25,836 --> 00:07:30,406
if it is in what they refer to
as their cause.
146
00:07:30,450 --> 00:07:32,540
And to run
the White House, Nixon chose
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00:07:32,582 --> 00:07:35,192
John Ehrlichman
and H.R. Bob Haldeman.
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00:07:35,237 --> 00:07:37,367
Both devout
Christian scientists.
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00:07:37,413 --> 00:07:39,463
Ehrlichman was a lawyer
with a thin skin
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00:07:39,502 --> 00:07:41,032
and a sharp tongue.
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00:07:41,069 --> 00:07:43,639
- Contrary to the, uh...
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statements of the Eastern
Establishment press...
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uh...
which, uh...
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understandably confuses
the location of all cities
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west of the Mississippi.
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I do not come from Portland,
I come from Seattle,
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and they are not suburbs
of one another.
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Haldeman was
an advertising executive
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00:08:02,351 --> 00:08:04,531
with a reputation
for ruthlessness.
160
00:08:04,571 --> 00:08:07,011
- Just after Richard Nixon
was elected president
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00:08:07,051 --> 00:08:09,581
and I was the White House
correspondent at the time,
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00:08:09,619 --> 00:08:13,139
H.R. Bob Haldeman, the new
Chief of White House Staff,
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he had asked to meet with me
in a small restaurant.
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And he looked me in the eye
in a very cold way and said,
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00:08:20,325 --> 00:08:23,015
"Dan Rather,
we know who you are
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00:08:23,067 --> 00:08:25,977
"and what you are
and we know what you're after
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00:08:26,027 --> 00:08:28,637
and we'll be watching you
the whole time."
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00:08:28,682 --> 00:08:30,732
Ehrlichman
and Haldeman, as a pair,
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00:08:30,771 --> 00:08:33,691
became Nixon's gatekeepers
and enforcers.
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00:08:33,730 --> 00:08:35,560
The White House staff
called them
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00:08:35,602 --> 00:08:38,652
the "German Shepards"
or the "Berlin Wall."
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As soon as he took office,
Nixon began alienating
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both the media
and the antiwar movement.
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00:08:43,740 --> 00:08:45,740
In his campaign,
he had promised
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to end the Vietnam War
but instead,
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he initially expanded it
by secretly bombing Cambodia,
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invading Cambodia,
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00:08:52,488 --> 00:08:54,358
and escalating
the bombing of Vietnam.
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- Because let us understand...
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North Vietnam cannot defeat
or humiliate the United States.
181
00:09:02,890 --> 00:09:06,460
Only Americans can do that.
182
00:09:06,502 --> 00:09:08,552
The antiwar
movement and the media
183
00:09:08,591 --> 00:09:11,901
exploded in anger and that
triggered Nixon's dark side.
184
00:09:11,942 --> 00:09:14,862
This is David Mixner,
who at the age of 23,
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00:09:14,902 --> 00:09:17,122
became one
of the four co-chairmen
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of the Vietnam Moratorium
antiwar organization.
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00:09:20,298 --> 00:09:22,738
Mixner was totally committed,
but he had a secret.
188
00:09:22,779 --> 00:09:25,389
- At first the Nixon people
tried to treat us nice
189
00:09:25,434 --> 00:09:28,184
and then they...
threatened us
190
00:09:28,219 --> 00:09:32,349
and I had meetings with
Ehrlichman and Kissinger...
191
00:09:32,397 --> 00:09:34,177
and I was blackmailed
192
00:09:34,225 --> 00:09:36,615
in an attempt to get me out
of the antiwar movement.
193
00:09:36,663 --> 00:09:38,713
Well, I was very closeted
194
00:09:38,752 --> 00:09:40,542
and if I hadn't been
I would not have been allowed
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00:09:40,580 --> 00:09:43,840
to participate
at the leadership level...
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00:09:43,887 --> 00:09:45,587
that I was at.
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00:09:45,628 --> 00:09:48,458
It just was,
in the times, in 1969,
198
00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:49,890
would have been
a horrible liability,
199
00:09:49,937 --> 00:09:51,767
public relations wise.
200
00:09:56,683 --> 00:09:59,383
So...you'd go to a bar,
201
00:09:59,424 --> 00:10:01,474
that was down an alley
and had no sign on it,
202
00:10:01,513 --> 00:10:04,213
and in walked a gentleman
203
00:10:04,255 --> 00:10:07,035
who I fell head over heels
in love with.
204
00:10:07,084 --> 00:10:09,964
He liked all the poets I liked,
the music I liked,
205
00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,310
and I got a key and went back
for, oh, near 30 days
206
00:10:14,352 --> 00:10:16,312
and it was beautiful,
beautiful.
207
00:10:16,354 --> 00:10:19,144
One weekend we were gonna
meet at a restaurant.
208
00:10:19,183 --> 00:10:23,753
I went to the restaurant
and two guys show up...
209
00:10:23,797 --> 00:10:25,837
with badges.
210
00:10:25,886 --> 00:10:28,926
And they emptied on the table
very explicit photographs
211
00:10:28,976 --> 00:10:30,626
of Frank and I having sex.
212
00:10:32,632 --> 00:10:34,242
They said, "Think about it
but we want you out
213
00:10:34,285 --> 00:10:36,635
of the antiwar movement."
214
00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,199
I went to warn Frank.
215
00:10:39,247 --> 00:10:40,937
Opened the apartment
and there wasn't a stick
216
00:10:40,988 --> 00:10:42,598
of furniture, a book,
or a record in it.
217
00:10:44,687 --> 00:10:46,597
Never saw him again.
218
00:10:46,646 --> 00:10:48,646
Don't even know
if he was Frank.
219
00:10:48,691 --> 00:10:50,741
After contemplating suicide,
220
00:10:50,780 --> 00:10:53,440
Mixner decided
to continue his work.
221
00:10:53,478 --> 00:10:56,348
- On October 15th, 1969,
222
00:10:56,394 --> 00:10:58,704
we were gonna bring the nation
to a standstill,
223
00:10:58,745 --> 00:11:00,485
to a moratorium.
224
00:11:00,529 --> 00:11:02,749
And then we met
with Ehrlichman.
225
00:11:02,792 --> 00:11:05,492
He said, "You know this march
isn't going to take place."
226
00:11:07,362 --> 00:11:09,102
We said,
"Well, of course it is."
227
00:11:09,146 --> 00:11:11,406
And then before he left...
228
00:11:11,453 --> 00:11:14,413
I remember him
tapping my knee...
229
00:11:15,805 --> 00:11:17,755
And saying, "David."
230
00:11:17,807 --> 00:11:19,457
And I said, "Yes, sir?"
231
00:11:19,504 --> 00:11:22,074
He said,
"We know all about you.
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00:11:22,116 --> 00:11:25,336
All about you.
Don't forget that."
233
00:11:35,999 --> 00:11:38,219
- Vietnam Moratorium Day.
234
00:11:38,262 --> 00:11:41,182
The largest demonstration
against the Vietnam War
235
00:11:41,222 --> 00:11:43,222
the nation
has ever experienced.
236
00:11:43,267 --> 00:11:46,657
- In the end we had
2 million people demonstrate.
237
00:11:46,706 --> 00:11:49,266
Covers of "TIME" magazine,
"LIFE" magazine.
238
00:11:49,317 --> 00:11:51,277
It was the biggest news story
that year.
239
00:11:51,319 --> 00:11:54,059
By this time, even
Henry Kissinger's advisors
240
00:11:54,104 --> 00:11:56,064
were warning him
that escalation in Vietnam
241
00:11:56,106 --> 00:11:57,756
wouldn't work.
242
00:11:57,804 --> 00:11:59,764
- I had consulted
for Henry Kissinger
243
00:11:59,806 --> 00:12:01,756
almost as soon as
he was appointed
244
00:12:01,808 --> 00:12:04,678
in the fall right after
the election in 1968
245
00:12:04,724 --> 00:12:06,774
as National Security Advisor.
246
00:12:06,813 --> 00:12:09,863
And I did a study for him,
247
00:12:09,903 --> 00:12:12,603
of options in Vietnam
248
00:12:12,644 --> 00:12:14,784
and I said,
"I don't think there is
249
00:12:14,821 --> 00:12:16,911
a win option in Vietnam."
250
00:12:16,953 --> 00:12:18,653
It was clear to me that
251
00:12:18,694 --> 00:12:21,784
nothing we were doing
would succeed
252
00:12:21,828 --> 00:12:25,048
and would only prolong
a stalemated war.
253
00:12:25,092 --> 00:12:28,702
Killing a lot of people
to no end effectively.
254
00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:30,308
And Mort Halperin,
255
00:12:30,358 --> 00:12:32,528
who was Kissinger's deputy
at that point,
256
00:12:32,577 --> 00:12:34,407
and I,
I think, agreed.
257
00:12:34,449 --> 00:12:37,449
- The South Vietnamese Army
was completely corrupt.
258
00:12:37,495 --> 00:12:39,365
That it was incapable
of defending itself.
259
00:12:39,410 --> 00:12:41,890
That when we left,
it would fall apart.
260
00:12:41,935 --> 00:12:45,545
We knew, for example, that of
every three rifles we gave
261
00:12:45,590 --> 00:12:49,200
to the South Vietnamese Army,
one of them--
262
00:12:49,246 --> 00:12:51,766
we gave it to a person who
was actually in the Viet Cong
263
00:12:51,814 --> 00:12:54,384
because about 1/3
of the South Vietnamese Army
264
00:12:54,425 --> 00:12:56,555
was actually Viet Cong.
265
00:12:56,601 --> 00:12:59,781
And then the second of the 1/3
was given to somebody
266
00:12:59,822 --> 00:13:01,912
who's totally corrupt
and immediately sold it
267
00:13:01,955 --> 00:13:03,775
on the black market
to the Viet Cong.
268
00:13:03,826 --> 00:13:05,566
So we were supplying
2/3 of the weapons
269
00:13:05,610 --> 00:13:07,180
to the enemy.
270
00:13:07,221 --> 00:13:08,701
Disillusioned
with Kissinger,
271
00:13:08,744 --> 00:13:10,274
Halperin resigned.
272
00:13:10,311 --> 00:13:12,141
But despite
increasing evidence
273
00:13:12,182 --> 00:13:14,662
and expert advise
that Vietnam couldn't be won,
274
00:13:14,706 --> 00:13:17,486
Nixon and Kissinger
still couldn't accept defeat.
275
00:13:17,535 --> 00:13:20,535
We know this from
Nixon's White House tapes.
276
00:13:20,582 --> 00:13:24,892
In early 1971, Nixon secretly
installed a taping system.
277
00:13:24,934 --> 00:13:27,154
Bob Haldeman was
the only senior official
278
00:13:27,197 --> 00:13:29,067
who knew the system existed
279
00:13:29,112 --> 00:13:31,112
and one of the very first
conversations recorded
280
00:13:31,158 --> 00:13:32,378
was about Vietnam.
281
00:13:36,163 --> 00:13:39,783
- Thank God we're
not going to lose.
282
00:13:39,819 --> 00:13:42,559
You say the air
is pounding them good.
283
00:13:42,604 --> 00:13:44,264
- They're pounding them.
284
00:13:44,301 --> 00:13:46,561
They're putting every B-52
they've got in there.
285
00:13:46,608 --> 00:13:48,918
- Main thing is to be sure...
286
00:13:48,958 --> 00:13:51,788
the South Vietnamese
fight well.
287
00:13:51,831 --> 00:13:54,961
If they fight well,
North Vietnam...
288
00:13:55,008 --> 00:13:58,318
can never beat South Vietnam.
289
00:13:58,359 --> 00:14:02,579
South Vietnam has more people.
- And more equipment.
290
00:14:02,624 --> 00:14:06,934
- We've gotta stay
as long as we're needed there.
291
00:14:06,976 --> 00:14:10,546
Kennedy and the libs
all get together and--
292
00:14:10,588 --> 00:14:14,028
- And this bastard Halperin.
Used to be on my staff.
293
00:14:14,070 --> 00:14:17,200
Mr. President, I'm convinced
you're now 80% of the way.
294
00:14:19,119 --> 00:14:22,249
- Nixon and Kissinger's
overriding priority
295
00:14:22,296 --> 00:14:25,076
regarding Vietnam was not
296
00:14:25,125 --> 00:14:27,735
the future of South Vietnam.
297
00:14:27,779 --> 00:14:30,829
It was the future
of American prestige.
298
00:14:30,870 --> 00:14:33,480
Each day,
to facilitate the process
299
00:14:33,524 --> 00:14:37,144
by which the United States
washes her hands of Vietnam,
300
00:14:37,180 --> 00:14:39,790
someone has to give up
his life...
301
00:14:39,835 --> 00:14:42,705
so that the United States
doesn't have to admit something
302
00:14:42,751 --> 00:14:45,931
that the entire world
already knows.
303
00:14:45,972 --> 00:14:49,982
So that we can't say
that we've made a mistake.
304
00:14:50,019 --> 00:14:52,889
Someone has to die so that
President Nixon won't be,
305
00:14:52,935 --> 00:14:55,015
and these are his words,
306
00:14:55,068 --> 00:14:57,508
"The first president
to lose a war."
307
00:14:59,594 --> 00:15:01,514
When escalation
didn't bring victory,
308
00:15:01,552 --> 00:15:03,822
Nixon started
withdrawing ground troops.
309
00:15:03,859 --> 00:15:05,949
But to prevent South Vietnam
from collapsing,
310
00:15:05,992 --> 00:15:08,122
he intensified
American bombing.
311
00:15:08,168 --> 00:15:10,948
The United States dropped
7 million tons of bombs
312
00:15:10,997 --> 00:15:12,517
during the Vietnam War.
313
00:15:12,563 --> 00:15:15,613
50% more
than in all of World War II.
314
00:15:15,653 --> 00:15:18,793
And also used napalm
and cancer-causing defoliants.
315
00:15:18,830 --> 00:15:21,830
Killing over
a million civilians.
316
00:15:21,877 --> 00:15:23,787
- I had come back from Vietnam
317
00:15:23,835 --> 00:15:26,445
believing that we should
get out of Vietnam.
318
00:15:26,490 --> 00:15:27,670
Left the government.
319
00:15:27,709 --> 00:15:29,839
Went to the RAND Corporation.
320
00:15:29,885 --> 00:15:31,445
Actually, one of
the first things I did there
321
00:15:31,495 --> 00:15:33,275
was to be assigned
to a study group
322
00:15:33,323 --> 00:15:35,983
that was preparing
the McNamara study
323
00:15:36,022 --> 00:15:38,072
but then became
more well known as
324
00:15:38,111 --> 00:15:40,111
the Pentagon Papers.
325
00:15:40,156 --> 00:15:42,846
The Pentagon Papers,
7,000 pages long,
326
00:15:42,898 --> 00:15:44,858
documented the history
of American failure
327
00:15:44,900 --> 00:15:46,770
and dishonesty
in Vietnam.
328
00:15:46,815 --> 00:15:49,035
Showing that many experts
and government officials
329
00:15:49,078 --> 00:15:51,168
had known
the war was unwinnable.
330
00:15:51,211 --> 00:15:54,001
- The Pentagon Papers
show that on--
331
00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,910
at several critical moments...
332
00:15:57,957 --> 00:16:00,997
the government lied.
Just straight-out lied.
333
00:16:01,047 --> 00:16:03,347
- That simply put
the question in my mind:
334
00:16:03,397 --> 00:16:06,007
What can I do
to help end this war
335
00:16:06,052 --> 00:16:07,792
now that I'm ready
to go to prison?
336
00:16:07,836 --> 00:16:09,786
And so in 1971,
337
00:16:09,838 --> 00:16:12,278
Daniel Ellsberg decided
to do something.
338
00:16:12,319 --> 00:16:15,059
Something that triggered
all of Richard Nixon's demons.
339
00:16:15,104 --> 00:16:17,594
- "The New York Times"
began publishing parts
340
00:16:17,628 --> 00:16:20,198
of a voluminous report
that the Pentagon had drawn up
341
00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,020
on the causes and conduct
342
00:16:22,068 --> 00:16:24,198
of American involvement
in Vietnam.
343
00:16:24,244 --> 00:16:26,334
- Henry Kissinger
exploded over it.
344
00:16:26,376 --> 00:16:27,936
Kissinger came in
and said
345
00:16:27,987 --> 00:16:29,467
we got to do something
about this
346
00:16:29,510 --> 00:16:31,560
because we can't conduct
secret negotiations
347
00:16:31,599 --> 00:16:33,559
if we can't maintain
our secrets.
348
00:16:33,601 --> 00:16:36,471
- The Justice Department
went to court in New York today
349
00:16:36,517 --> 00:16:39,127
and got a temporary order
restraining "The Times"
350
00:16:39,172 --> 00:16:41,832
from publishing the next
and last two installments.
351
00:16:41,870 --> 00:16:46,270
- The American press unites
in this massive force.
352
00:16:46,309 --> 00:16:48,089
"The Times" is stopped
from publication
353
00:16:48,137 --> 00:16:50,357
and "The Washington Post"
rushes into the breach.
354
00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,050
"The Post" is stopped
from publication
355
00:16:52,098 --> 00:16:53,838
and
"The St. Louis Post Dispatch"
356
00:16:53,882 --> 00:16:55,672
and
"The Boston Globe" continue.
357
00:16:55,710 --> 00:16:59,450
- 17 papers in all had
brought them out by this time.
358
00:16:59,496 --> 00:17:02,536
It was a wave
of civil disobedience.
359
00:17:02,586 --> 00:17:05,196
- A name has now come out
as the possible source
360
00:17:05,241 --> 00:17:07,071
of "The Times"
Pentagon documents.
361
00:17:07,113 --> 00:17:09,943
It is that of Daniel Ellsberg,
40-years-old,
362
00:17:09,985 --> 00:17:12,765
one-time marine,
later a top-policy analyst
363
00:17:12,814 --> 00:17:14,344
for the Defense
and State Departments
364
00:17:14,381 --> 00:17:16,251
during the Vietnam build up.
365
00:17:16,296 --> 00:17:18,556
- Finally, only when
I had gotten rid of
366
00:17:18,602 --> 00:17:22,262
all of the copies that I had,
I surrendered.
367
00:17:22,302 --> 00:17:25,702
Was charged initially
with three counts of felonies,
368
00:17:25,740 --> 00:17:28,220
which later became 12,
369
00:17:28,264 --> 00:17:32,054
for a possible sentence
of 115 years in prison.
370
00:17:32,094 --> 00:17:34,184
- As it came out
that it was Ellsberg
371
00:17:34,227 --> 00:17:36,617
who was the person
who leaked the papers,
372
00:17:36,664 --> 00:17:38,714
Kissinger began to get
a little nervous because
373
00:17:38,753 --> 00:17:41,673
he was the one who brought
Ellsberg into the counsels
374
00:17:41,712 --> 00:17:44,932
of the Nixon administration
during the transition period.
375
00:17:44,976 --> 00:17:47,236
And he starts spinning
these lurid tales
376
00:17:47,283 --> 00:17:50,073
about Ellsberg
which Nixon just gobbles up.
377
00:17:56,466 --> 00:17:58,986
- It started as
the Ellsberg story.
378
00:17:59,034 --> 00:18:01,954
Front page, big black type.
379
00:18:01,993 --> 00:18:04,473
- Curse that son of a bitch.
I know him well.
380
00:18:04,518 --> 00:18:06,128
- You know him?
- Well.
381
00:18:06,172 --> 00:18:08,002
- He's nuts, isn't he?
- Nuts.
382
00:18:08,043 --> 00:18:10,133
- Why did they have him
in the Defense Department?
383
00:18:10,176 --> 00:18:12,476
- Well, Mr. President,
he's a funny guy.
384
00:18:12,526 --> 00:18:14,306
He's a genius.
385
00:18:14,354 --> 00:18:16,144
Brightest student
I've ever had.
386
00:18:16,182 --> 00:18:18,752
He was a hardliner.
Volunteered for Vietnam.
387
00:18:18,793 --> 00:18:20,663
He was so nuts.
388
00:18:20,708 --> 00:18:23,228
He'd drive around all over
Vietnam with a carbine.
389
00:18:23,276 --> 00:18:25,146
When it is guerilla-infested,
390
00:18:25,191 --> 00:18:27,061
he'd shoot at peasants
in the fields
391
00:18:27,106 --> 00:18:29,146
on the theory
that everyone in black--
392
00:18:29,195 --> 00:18:31,145
- He's a born killer.
393
00:18:31,197 --> 00:18:33,327
- He's always been
a little unbalanced.
394
00:18:33,373 --> 00:18:35,943
- It's the most slanderous lie
that could be made of me.
395
00:18:35,984 --> 00:18:38,734
He also said that I was his
most brilliant student.
396
00:18:38,769 --> 00:18:41,899
I'd never been a student of his
for a minute.
397
00:18:47,038 --> 00:18:49,168
- They brought him
into defense
398
00:18:49,215 --> 00:18:51,565
and he came back from Vietnam
but he flipped, late '67,
399
00:18:51,608 --> 00:18:53,698
suddenly turned
into a peacenik.
400
00:18:53,741 --> 00:18:56,271
He's moved into more
and more radical position.
401
00:18:56,309 --> 00:18:58,919
- What do you suppose
"The Times" paid him for this?
402
00:18:58,963 --> 00:19:00,443
- He wouldn't do that
for money.
403
00:19:00,487 --> 00:19:02,317
- Well, they do
if they're on dope.
404
00:19:02,358 --> 00:19:04,928
- He's married a very rich girl
he doesn't need money.
405
00:19:04,969 --> 00:19:07,449
- Well, the other reason
is that this is a labor of love
406
00:19:07,494 --> 00:19:09,374
for "The Times."
407
00:19:09,409 --> 00:19:12,329
There's nobody in "The Times"
that's for us on Vietnam.
408
00:19:12,368 --> 00:19:14,848
- You can maybe
blackmail Johnson
409
00:19:14,892 --> 00:19:17,032
on the bombing halt stuff.
410
00:19:17,068 --> 00:19:19,508
Huston swears there's
a file on it at Brookings.
411
00:19:19,549 --> 00:19:21,289
- I wouldn't be surprised.
412
00:19:21,334 --> 00:19:22,994
Tom Huston
was a hard-line official
413
00:19:23,031 --> 00:19:24,511
who had developed
an aggressive
414
00:19:24,554 --> 00:19:26,254
and highly illegal plan
for spying on
415
00:19:26,295 --> 00:19:28,425
the antiwar movement.
416
00:19:28,471 --> 00:19:30,521
Huston and his plan were
stopped by federal officials,
417
00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:32,820
but Nixon wanted to go
even further.
418
00:19:32,867 --> 00:19:34,997
Including breaking
into the Brookings Institute,
419
00:19:35,043 --> 00:19:36,963
a moderate think tank
in Washington.
420
00:19:37,001 --> 00:19:39,221
- Now you remember
Huston's plan?
421
00:19:39,265 --> 00:19:41,045
Implement it.
422
00:19:41,092 --> 00:19:43,882
I want it implemented
on a thievery basis.
423
00:19:43,921 --> 00:19:46,401
Goddammit,
get in and get those files.
424
00:19:46,446 --> 00:19:49,226
Blow the safe and get it.
425
00:19:54,018 --> 00:19:55,888
male narrator: Richard Nixon's
angry cutthroat edge
426
00:19:55,933 --> 00:19:57,723
came from his background.
427
00:19:57,761 --> 00:19:59,421
His family was poor,
his father was harsh,
428
00:19:59,459 --> 00:20:01,939
and two of his brothers died
in childhood.
429
00:20:01,983 --> 00:20:03,993
When Harvard invited Nixon
to apply,
430
00:20:04,028 --> 00:20:06,158
his parents told him
they couldn't afford it.
431
00:20:06,205 --> 00:20:08,245
Forcing him to attend
Whittier College,
432
00:20:08,294 --> 00:20:10,434
a small local school instead.
433
00:20:10,470 --> 00:20:13,120
Nixon emerged from this
with a burning ambition.
434
00:20:13,168 --> 00:20:15,388
And in six years,
he went from nobody
435
00:20:15,431 --> 00:20:18,481
to congressman, senator,
and then Vice President.
436
00:20:18,521 --> 00:20:21,961
But Nixon also developed
a deep, lifelong resentment
437
00:20:22,003 --> 00:20:24,573
of smooth, privileged,
Ivy league elites.
438
00:20:24,614 --> 00:20:26,574
And then he started
losing to them.
439
00:20:26,616 --> 00:20:29,446
- Nixon runs
for the presidency in 1960
440
00:20:29,489 --> 00:20:31,489
against Nelson Rockefeller
and Jack Kennedy,
441
00:20:31,534 --> 00:20:35,364
two wealthy, womanizing,
Ivy league graduates
442
00:20:35,408 --> 00:20:38,278
who symbolize everything
that Nixon is not.
443
00:20:38,324 --> 00:20:40,634
That first big defeat
to Jack Kennedy.
444
00:20:40,674 --> 00:20:43,814
He believes that the election
was stolen from him.
445
00:20:43,851 --> 00:20:46,641
You see for the first time
this resolution by Nixon
446
00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,600
that he's never gonna be
out cheated again.
447
00:20:48,638 --> 00:20:50,418
Two years after losing
448
00:20:50,466 --> 00:20:51,986
the presidency to Kennedy...
449
00:20:52,033 --> 00:20:53,513
Nixon attempted a comeback.
450
00:20:53,556 --> 00:20:55,646
Running for
Governor of California.
451
00:20:55,689 --> 00:20:57,999
He lost again
and he blamed the media.
452
00:20:58,039 --> 00:21:02,169
- But as I leave you,
I want you to know...
453
00:21:02,217 --> 00:21:04,567
Just think how much
you're gonna be missing.
454
00:21:04,611 --> 00:21:07,091
You don't have Nixon
to kick around anymore.
455
00:21:07,135 --> 00:21:10,225
And now, seven years
later as president,
456
00:21:10,269 --> 00:21:12,449
Richard Nixon finds
the same liberal media
457
00:21:12,488 --> 00:21:14,578
blocking his path.
458
00:21:14,621 --> 00:21:17,361
- I have chosen a plan
for peace.
459
00:21:17,406 --> 00:21:19,666
I believe it will succeed.
460
00:21:21,497 --> 00:21:23,587
If it does not succeed...
461
00:21:23,630 --> 00:21:26,460
what the critics say now
won't matter.
462
00:21:28,635 --> 00:21:30,375
Or if it does succeed,
463
00:21:30,419 --> 00:21:33,339
what the critics say now
won't matter.
464
00:21:33,379 --> 00:21:36,599
- There was, in this speech,
no new initiative,
465
00:21:36,643 --> 00:21:38,653
no new proposal,
466
00:21:38,688 --> 00:21:41,868
no announcement
of any more troop withdrawals,
467
00:21:41,909 --> 00:21:44,349
and, in short, Mr. Nixon
has taken a hard line,
468
00:21:44,390 --> 00:21:46,350
not only against
the North Vietnamese,
469
00:21:46,392 --> 00:21:50,532
but also against those in this
country who oppose his policy.
470
00:21:50,570 --> 00:21:53,490
- The president tonight
perhaps has polarized attitude
471
00:21:53,529 --> 00:21:55,659
in the country more
than it ever has been
472
00:21:55,705 --> 00:21:58,525
into groups who are either
for him or who are against him.
473
00:21:58,578 --> 00:22:00,228
The media's response
474
00:22:00,275 --> 00:22:01,615
infuriated
the Nixon White House
475
00:22:01,668 --> 00:22:03,498
and so Patrick Buchanan,
476
00:22:03,539 --> 00:22:06,149
Nixon's populist speech writer
and strategist,
477
00:22:06,194 --> 00:22:08,334
persuaded Nixon
to go on the offensive.
478
00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:11,110
- And so that's when
I wrote him a memo saying,
479
00:22:11,155 --> 00:22:13,635
"You know, we're gonna have
to counterattack the media
480
00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,250
"and I'll write a speech
for Agnew which goes
481
00:22:16,291 --> 00:22:18,641
directly after the networks
the first time."
482
00:22:18,685 --> 00:22:21,555
That is the beginning
of the wars against the media
483
00:22:21,601 --> 00:22:23,341
that exists to this day.
484
00:22:23,385 --> 00:22:25,815
- Tonight I want to discuss
the importance
485
00:22:25,866 --> 00:22:29,866
of the television medium
to the American people.
486
00:22:29,913 --> 00:22:33,223
Nowhere in our system
are there fewer checks
487
00:22:33,264 --> 00:22:35,314
on such vast power.
488
00:22:35,354 --> 00:22:38,664
Perhaps the place
to start looking...
489
00:22:38,705 --> 00:22:41,315
for a credibility gap
is not in the offices
490
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:43,100
of the government in Washington
491
00:22:43,144 --> 00:22:45,324
but in the studios
of the networks in New York.
492
00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,110
In private,
but only in private,
493
00:22:52,153 --> 00:22:54,463
Nixon was more specific
about who he blamed.
494
00:22:59,682 --> 00:23:04,432
- "Newsweek" is owned by Jews
and dominated by them.
495
00:23:04,470 --> 00:23:06,820
"New York Times,"
"The Washington Post,"
496
00:23:06,863 --> 00:23:08,133
totally Jewish.
497
00:23:08,169 --> 00:23:10,559
All three networks,
498
00:23:10,606 --> 00:23:13,606
except for the front men,
Brinkley or Cronkite,
499
00:23:13,653 --> 00:23:15,353
but the writers are Jewish.
500
00:23:15,394 --> 00:23:18,144
Does this mean
all Jews are bad?
501
00:23:18,179 --> 00:23:20,009
No.
502
00:23:20,050 --> 00:23:21,840
It does mean...
503
00:23:21,878 --> 00:23:24,448
most Jews are left wing.
504
00:23:24,490 --> 00:23:27,580
And they're for peace
at any price
505
00:23:27,623 --> 00:23:29,973
except where
Israel is concerned.
506
00:23:30,017 --> 00:23:34,457
Now, however, in the media
we confront a solid block.
507
00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:36,330
It doesn't have anything to do
with anti-Semitism.
508
00:23:36,371 --> 00:23:38,371
It happens though.
509
00:23:38,417 --> 00:23:41,767
- And they're the ones putting
out the pornographic stuff.
510
00:23:41,811 --> 00:23:44,421
This stranglehold
has got to be broken
511
00:23:44,466 --> 00:23:46,466
or this country's gonna go
down the drain.
512
00:23:46,512 --> 00:23:49,252
- You believe that?
- Oh, yes, sir.
513
00:23:49,297 --> 00:23:50,597
- So do I.
514
00:23:52,343 --> 00:23:53,873
I could never say it though.
515
00:23:53,910 --> 00:23:56,570
- No but if you're elected
a second time
516
00:23:56,609 --> 00:23:59,049
you might be able
to do something.
517
00:23:59,089 --> 00:24:00,739
The Pentagon Papers
had everything
518
00:24:00,787 --> 00:24:02,917
to infuriate Nixon.
519
00:24:02,963 --> 00:24:05,143
They were published a year
before Nixon faced re-election
520
00:24:05,182 --> 00:24:08,102
and they were the result of
an antiwar, Harvard-educated,
521
00:24:08,142 --> 00:24:10,622
East Coast Jew leaking secrets
522
00:24:10,666 --> 00:24:12,966
to "The New York Times"
and "The Washington Post."
523
00:24:13,016 --> 00:24:15,496
And then, the Supreme Court
let them get away with it.
524
00:24:15,541 --> 00:24:17,191
- The United States
Supreme Court, today,
525
00:24:17,238 --> 00:24:19,068
ruled against the government
526
00:24:19,109 --> 00:24:21,199
and gave "The New York Times"
and "The Washington Post"
527
00:24:21,242 --> 00:24:24,512
the right to resume publishing
the secret Pentagon study
528
00:24:24,550 --> 00:24:27,550
on United States involvement
in the war in Vietnam.
529
00:24:27,596 --> 00:24:30,426
- You see Richard Nixon
getting more and more angry
530
00:24:30,469 --> 00:24:34,339
and more and more upset
and he cracks.
531
00:24:35,909 --> 00:24:37,819
- I need a son of a bitch
like Huston,
532
00:24:37,867 --> 00:24:39,957
who will work his butt off
533
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,830
and do it dishonorably.
534
00:24:42,872 --> 00:24:44,962
And we'll know what he's doing.
535
00:24:45,005 --> 00:24:46,785
I'll direct him myself.
536
00:24:46,833 --> 00:24:49,843
I know how to play this game.
537
00:24:49,879 --> 00:24:51,709
We're gonna start playing it.
538
00:24:51,751 --> 00:24:53,751
I want someone as tough
as I am for a change.
539
00:24:53,796 --> 00:24:56,056
Do you think,
for Christ's sakes,
540
00:24:56,103 --> 00:25:00,373
"The New York Times" is worried
about all the legal niceties?
541
00:25:00,411 --> 00:25:03,021
Those sons of bitches
are killing me.
542
00:25:03,066 --> 00:25:05,026
We're up against...
543
00:25:05,068 --> 00:25:07,848
an enemy.
544
00:25:07,897 --> 00:25:09,597
A conspiracy.
545
00:25:09,638 --> 00:25:11,898
They're using any means.
546
00:25:11,945 --> 00:25:15,555
We are going to use any means.
547
00:25:15,601 --> 00:25:17,991
Did you get the Brookings
Institute raided last night?
548
00:25:18,038 --> 00:25:20,388
- No.
- No? Get it done.
549
00:25:20,431 --> 00:25:24,221
I want the Brookings safe
cleaned out.
550
00:25:30,659 --> 00:25:32,619
male narrator: Nixon often
vented his frustrations
551
00:25:32,661 --> 00:25:34,141
to his staff,
as Morton Halperin had seen
552
00:25:34,184 --> 00:25:35,584
while working for Kissinger.
553
00:25:35,621 --> 00:25:37,671
- I was--
often worked very late,
554
00:25:37,710 --> 00:25:39,580
and I would be
in Kissinger's office
555
00:25:39,625 --> 00:25:41,405
and Haig would be there,
556
00:25:41,452 --> 00:25:43,592
who was Kissinger's
then military assistant,
557
00:25:43,629 --> 00:25:46,629
and almost always
the phone would ring
558
00:25:46,675 --> 00:25:48,715
and Kissinger would answer it
559
00:25:48,764 --> 00:25:51,334
and Haig would
get on another line
560
00:25:51,375 --> 00:25:53,855
and it would be the president
561
00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:57,210
calling
and ranting and raving
562
00:25:57,251 --> 00:26:00,081
about something or somebody
563
00:26:00,123 --> 00:26:04,133
and it would go on for
a very long period of time,
564
00:26:04,171 --> 00:26:07,701
and Haig would
then announce that...
565
00:26:07,740 --> 00:26:10,000
the president
was out of control again
566
00:26:10,046 --> 00:26:14,566
and often suggest that he had,
once again, been drinking.
567
00:26:14,616 --> 00:26:16,876
- Fine. How many if we
take out the dikes?
568
00:26:16,923 --> 00:26:19,933
Will that drown people?
- About 200,000 people.
569
00:26:19,969 --> 00:26:22,279
- No, no, no.
I'd rather use a nuclear bomb.
570
00:26:22,319 --> 00:26:24,759
- That, I think,
would just be too much.
571
00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,850
- I just want you
to think big, Henry.
572
00:26:27,890 --> 00:26:30,940
For Christ's sakes.
573
00:26:30,980 --> 00:26:33,550
- Nixon was prone
to these explosions.
574
00:26:33,592 --> 00:26:37,032
He sends a memo to Haldeman
and Ehrlichman and he says,
575
00:26:37,073 --> 00:26:39,643
"I'm gonna be
issuing orders sometimes
576
00:26:39,685 --> 00:26:41,765
"that you guys are not gonna
think are wise
577
00:26:41,817 --> 00:26:44,037
"and you're gonna decide that
you don't want to obey them.
578
00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,470
"That's okay.
579
00:26:46,517 --> 00:26:49,127
"I recognize this in me.
580
00:26:49,172 --> 00:26:52,132
"Just tell me so I know which
of the orders are carried out
581
00:26:52,175 --> 00:26:53,915
and which ones are not."
582
00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:55,790
When you're talking about
the President
583
00:26:55,831 --> 00:26:57,751
of the United States
this is incredibly dangerous
584
00:26:57,790 --> 00:26:59,620
because eventually
you're gonna get somebody,
585
00:26:59,661 --> 00:27:01,791
like Charles Colson,
who joins the administration
586
00:27:01,837 --> 00:27:03,927
in the fall of 1969
587
00:27:03,970 --> 00:27:07,190
and wants to worm his way
into Nixon's good graces.
588
00:27:07,234 --> 00:27:09,544
- I've never walked over
my grandmother
589
00:27:09,584 --> 00:27:11,244
if that's what you're asking.
590
00:27:11,281 --> 00:27:13,021
Chuck Colson was a ruthless,
591
00:27:13,066 --> 00:27:14,976
ambitious young lawyer
who quickly became
592
00:27:15,024 --> 00:27:16,684
Nixon's favorite hatchet man.
593
00:27:16,722 --> 00:27:18,642
In part because
Colson was willing to do
594
00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:20,250
just about anything.
595
00:27:20,290 --> 00:27:21,940
And one of the first
to learn that
596
00:27:21,988 --> 00:27:24,288
was another young lawyer
named John Dean.
597
00:27:24,338 --> 00:27:27,728
In 1969, Dean had joined
the Justice Department.
598
00:27:27,776 --> 00:27:29,296
Dealing with
the antiwar movement
599
00:27:29,343 --> 00:27:30,473
and John Mitchell's
600
00:27:30,518 --> 00:27:31,868
hard-line drug policies
601
00:27:31,911 --> 00:27:33,171
including making
possession
602
00:27:33,216 --> 00:27:34,346
of marijuana
a felony.
603
00:27:34,391 --> 00:27:35,961
But in 1970,
604
00:27:36,002 --> 00:27:37,182
after John Ehrlichman
became
605
00:27:37,220 --> 00:27:38,920
domestic policy advisor,
606
00:27:38,961 --> 00:27:40,961
John Dean joined
the White House staff
607
00:27:41,007 --> 00:27:42,697
as the new counsel
to the president
608
00:27:42,748 --> 00:27:44,308
and Chuck Colson
soon gave him
609
00:27:44,358 --> 00:27:46,138
a taste
of things to come.
610
00:27:46,186 --> 00:27:48,926
- First time I get something
that's really serious
611
00:27:48,971 --> 00:27:53,541
is when Jack Caulfield walks
in my office, wide-eyed,
612
00:27:53,584 --> 00:27:57,684
and said that, "I have just
come from Chuck Colson's office
613
00:27:57,719 --> 00:28:00,589
who's ordered me to firebomb
the Brookings Institute."
614
00:28:00,635 --> 00:28:02,155
I said, "What?"
615
00:28:02,202 --> 00:28:03,942
He said,
"He wants me to firebomb
616
00:28:03,986 --> 00:28:05,766
"the Brookings Institute.
617
00:28:05,814 --> 00:28:08,434
"When the fire department
responds,
618
00:28:08,469 --> 00:28:12,079
he wants me to send a team of
burglars in to break the safe."
619
00:28:12,125 --> 00:28:15,165
I got on the next courier
flight to California
620
00:28:15,215 --> 00:28:18,515
and went to visit Ehrlichman
in San Clemente
621
00:28:18,566 --> 00:28:20,696
'cause I wasn't gonna
let him off on this one.
622
00:28:20,742 --> 00:28:22,882
I had opened the code
before I left.
623
00:28:22,918 --> 00:28:26,438
I saw that it was
probably a capital offense
624
00:28:26,487 --> 00:28:29,267
if anybody died
as a result of arson
625
00:28:29,316 --> 00:28:31,096
in the District of Columbia.
626
00:28:31,144 --> 00:28:33,494
And so I was not gonna
have a phone call
627
00:28:33,537 --> 00:28:35,447
where he would brush me off.
628
00:28:35,496 --> 00:28:37,496
I was going out there
for an eyeball to eyeball
629
00:28:37,541 --> 00:28:41,371
to tell him this was insane,
it was criminal,
630
00:28:41,415 --> 00:28:43,495
and it was certainly
not conduct
631
00:28:43,547 --> 00:28:45,377
that should be
even contemplated
632
00:28:45,419 --> 00:28:46,859
in the White House.
633
00:28:46,899 --> 00:28:49,769
And he heard me out.
634
00:28:49,815 --> 00:28:53,775
He picked up the phone,
got Colson on the line, said,
635
00:28:53,819 --> 00:28:57,039
"Chuck, young counsel,
Dean, is out here with me.
636
00:28:57,083 --> 00:29:00,003
"He's learned about
the Brookings operation,
637
00:29:00,042 --> 00:29:03,522
"does not think
it's a good idea, cancel it."
638
00:29:03,567 --> 00:29:05,657
Puts down the phone.
Hangs it up.
639
00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:07,310
"Anything else, Counselor?"
640
00:29:07,354 --> 00:29:10,104
I said, "No, John, thank you."
And left.
641
00:29:10,139 --> 00:29:12,269
- So, Ehrlichman
already knew about it?
642
00:29:12,315 --> 00:29:15,485
- Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
643
00:29:15,536 --> 00:29:19,236
- It was war and it should be
fought anyway...
644
00:29:19,279 --> 00:29:20,929
that you can fight it.
645
00:29:20,976 --> 00:29:23,886
I talked to Nixon enough.
He believed...
646
00:29:23,936 --> 00:29:26,676
his phone was tapped.
His wife was followed--
647
00:29:26,721 --> 00:29:29,591
all of these things.
Which were not true.
648
00:29:29,637 --> 00:29:31,807
Infuriated by
leaks to the media,
649
00:29:31,857 --> 00:29:33,637
Nixon orders Ehrlichman
to create
650
00:29:33,684 --> 00:29:35,344
a secret White House
organization
651
00:29:35,382 --> 00:29:37,302
to identify leakers
and attack them.
652
00:29:37,340 --> 00:29:39,390
Starting with Daniel Ellsberg.
653
00:29:39,429 --> 00:29:41,649
- Nixon calls this team
that he sets up,
654
00:29:41,692 --> 00:29:43,742
"The Special
Investigations Unit."
655
00:29:43,782 --> 00:29:45,352
They call themselves
the "Plumbers."
656
00:29:45,392 --> 00:29:46,612
Break-in,
plant bugs,
657
00:29:46,654 --> 00:29:48,924
rifle files, infiltrate.
658
00:29:48,961 --> 00:29:51,701
- Gordon Liddy is part
of the "Plumbers" Unit.
659
00:29:51,746 --> 00:29:54,526
He's a screwball.
He's a nutcase.
660
00:29:54,575 --> 00:29:57,745
He's a bumbler.
He's a romantic.
661
00:29:57,796 --> 00:30:02,016
He is somebody
who thought he was James Bond.
662
00:30:02,061 --> 00:30:04,851
He'd come up with a plan
to break-in
663
00:30:04,890 --> 00:30:08,240
to Daniel Ellsberg's
psychiatrist's office.
664
00:30:08,284 --> 00:30:11,074
Liddy and these Cuban Americans,
665
00:30:11,113 --> 00:30:13,073
he's been able to arrange
666
00:30:13,115 --> 00:30:14,985
to help him
667
00:30:15,030 --> 00:30:17,250
through another White House
aide, Howard Hunt.
668
00:30:17,293 --> 00:30:20,643
They broke in.
They find nothing in the files.
669
00:30:20,688 --> 00:30:23,468
They trash the place.
670
00:30:23,517 --> 00:30:28,087
- We had one little operation
671
00:30:28,130 --> 00:30:30,870
it's been aborted
in Los Angeles,
672
00:30:30,916 --> 00:30:34,616
which I think it's better
you don't know about.
673
00:30:36,356 --> 00:30:38,526
- They realize
they gotta get Liddy
674
00:30:38,575 --> 00:30:40,655
and Hunt out
of the White House.
675
00:30:40,708 --> 00:30:42,488
- And in classic Washington
bureaucratic fashion
676
00:30:42,536 --> 00:30:44,186
they're promoted to be
somebody else's problem
677
00:30:44,233 --> 00:30:46,193
and they're
sent over to
678
00:30:46,235 --> 00:30:48,105
the Committee to RE-Elect
the President, to CREEP.
679
00:30:48,150 --> 00:30:49,800
narrator: CREEP,
which stood for
680
00:30:49,848 --> 00:30:51,408
the Committee to RE-Elect
the President,
681
00:30:51,458 --> 00:30:52,888
was the organization
created to manage
682
00:30:52,938 --> 00:30:55,288
Nixon's 1972
re-election campaign.
683
00:30:55,331 --> 00:30:57,551
And Gordon Liddy
wanted to control
684
00:30:57,594 --> 00:30:59,474
CREEP's intelligence
operation.
685
00:30:59,509 --> 00:31:03,769
And so, in January, 1972,
John Dean gets a call
686
00:31:03,818 --> 00:31:06,388
from Jeb Magruder,
the Acting Director of CREEP,
687
00:31:06,429 --> 00:31:09,429
inviting Dean to a meeting
at John Mitchell's office.
688
00:31:09,476 --> 00:31:11,906
Officially, Mitchell is
still Attorney General
689
00:31:11,957 --> 00:31:13,567
but he's actually
already managing
690
00:31:13,610 --> 00:31:15,000
Nixon's re-election campaign.
691
00:31:15,047 --> 00:31:17,007
- Magruder calls me,
692
00:31:17,049 --> 00:31:19,699
would I come over
to the meeting
693
00:31:19,747 --> 00:31:22,397
where Liddy presents
his intelligence plans.
694
00:31:22,445 --> 00:31:24,485
And it's one of the more
amazing meetings
695
00:31:24,534 --> 00:31:26,454
I was ever in,
in government.
696
00:31:26,493 --> 00:31:30,283
Liddy started talking about
kidnapping antiwar leaders.
697
00:31:30,323 --> 00:31:33,463
He said, "I have some men
who will take these people
698
00:31:33,500 --> 00:31:35,940
"off the street, take them
below the Mexican border,
699
00:31:35,981 --> 00:31:37,811
"drug them, and put them
out of commission
700
00:31:37,852 --> 00:31:39,292
during the campaign."
701
00:31:39,332 --> 00:31:41,902
Mitchell ended it
and he said,
702
00:31:41,943 --> 00:31:44,383
"Gordon, I'm more interested
in a plan
703
00:31:44,424 --> 00:31:47,384
where we can track
the antiwar movement."
704
00:31:47,427 --> 00:31:50,907
A week or so later, I get
a call from Magruder and said,
705
00:31:50,952 --> 00:31:54,962
"Liddy is presenting his
revised intelligence plan."
706
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,130
I just went right up
to Mitchell's office
707
00:31:57,176 --> 00:32:00,396
and they were
talking about wiretapping.
708
00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,050
So I said, very loudly,
just to throw cold water
709
00:32:02,094 --> 00:32:03,884
on the meeting,
710
00:32:03,922 --> 00:32:05,712
that I didn't think these were
the sort of things
711
00:32:05,749 --> 00:32:07,319
that should ever be discussed
in the office
712
00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,230
of the Attorney General
of the United States.
713
00:32:09,275 --> 00:32:11,055
Dean's comment
ended the meeting
714
00:32:11,103 --> 00:32:12,373
but not
Liddy's planning.
715
00:32:12,408 --> 00:32:14,018
And soon afterwards,
716
00:32:14,062 --> 00:32:15,722
Mitchell resigned
as Attorney General
717
00:32:15,759 --> 00:32:17,669
in order to run Nixon's
re-election campaign
718
00:32:17,718 --> 00:32:19,328
full time.
719
00:32:19,372 --> 00:32:21,332
- Liddy doesn't
give up.
720
00:32:21,374 --> 00:32:22,724
And that's
what Magruder
721
00:32:22,766 --> 00:32:24,286
will later tell me.
722
00:32:24,333 --> 00:32:26,603
Got him to go down
with the plan in hand
723
00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:28,560
and get Mitchell to approve it.
724
00:32:28,598 --> 00:32:30,508
One of Liddy's first actions
725
00:32:30,557 --> 00:32:32,427
was to bug the Democratic
National Committee
726
00:32:32,472 --> 00:32:34,172
but the results
weren't impressive
727
00:32:34,213 --> 00:32:36,353
so he went back in
and he blew it.
728
00:32:40,393 --> 00:32:42,003
- Five people
have been arrested
729
00:32:42,047 --> 00:32:43,827
and charged with breaking
into the headquarters
730
00:32:43,874 --> 00:32:45,314
of the Democratic
National Committee
731
00:32:45,354 --> 00:32:47,054
in the middle of the night.
732
00:32:47,095 --> 00:32:48,785
- The Democratic
National Committee is housed
733
00:32:48,836 --> 00:32:50,446
in the fashionable
Watergate complex.
734
00:32:50,490 --> 00:32:52,320
The break-in apparently
planned well in advance.
735
00:32:52,361 --> 00:32:54,361
- Police confiscated
extensive photographic
736
00:32:54,407 --> 00:32:56,187
and electronic
eavesdropping gear
737
00:32:56,235 --> 00:32:58,015
as well as
several thousand dollars
738
00:32:58,063 --> 00:32:59,673
in consecutively
numbered bills.
739
00:32:59,716 --> 00:33:01,236
- Each had several aliases.
740
00:33:01,283 --> 00:33:02,943
Four said they were
from Miami.
741
00:33:02,981 --> 00:33:04,461
The fifth
said he lived
742
00:33:04,504 --> 00:33:05,984
in the metropolitan
Washington area.
743
00:33:06,027 --> 00:33:08,117
Three were originally
from Cuba.
744
00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:09,810
The story
attracted the interest
745
00:33:09,857 --> 00:33:12,727
of two young,
ambitious reporters.
746
00:33:12,773 --> 00:33:16,393
- I had come in to the office
and I saw this commotion
747
00:33:16,429 --> 00:33:19,299
over on the city desk
and it was about...
748
00:33:19,345 --> 00:33:21,605
this break-in
that occurred at
749
00:33:21,651 --> 00:33:24,181
the Democratic National
Headquarters at the Watergate.
750
00:33:24,219 --> 00:33:28,269
So I said to the city editor,
"Hey, I know some people
751
00:33:28,310 --> 00:33:31,620
over at the Watergate, maybe
I'll make some phone checks."
752
00:33:31,661 --> 00:33:34,451
- The morning of June 17th
was one of those
753
00:33:34,490 --> 00:33:37,800
glorious, beautiful days
in Washington.
754
00:33:37,841 --> 00:33:39,931
Saturday.
755
00:33:39,974 --> 00:33:42,374
The editors said,
756
00:33:42,411 --> 00:33:45,501
"Well, we've got this
burglary at...
757
00:33:45,545 --> 00:33:48,195
"the Democratic headquarters.
Who would be dumb enough
758
00:33:48,243 --> 00:33:50,993
to come in
on such a beautiful day?"
759
00:33:51,029 --> 00:33:54,079
and they immediately
thought of me.
760
00:33:54,119 --> 00:33:57,729
- In 1972, I was 28
761
00:33:57,774 --> 00:34:01,344
and I'd been working
for 12 years in the business.
762
00:34:01,387 --> 00:34:04,737
I actually was, I think,
the first reporter
763
00:34:04,781 --> 00:34:07,181
to be hired
without a college degree.
764
00:34:07,219 --> 00:34:11,439
- I was a Republican.
Registered Republican.
765
00:34:11,484 --> 00:34:15,974
I was in the Navy in '68
and I voted for Nixon...
766
00:34:16,010 --> 00:34:19,140
because I believed he would
767
00:34:19,187 --> 00:34:22,627
get us out of the Vietnam War.
768
00:34:22,669 --> 00:34:27,799
I saw some of it from a ship
off the coast of Vietnam
769
00:34:27,848 --> 00:34:33,068
and I felt the Vietnam War
was a giant mistake and waste.
770
00:34:33,114 --> 00:34:35,684
I'd been
at "The Post" nine months
771
00:34:35,725 --> 00:34:38,115
and was
the night police reporter
772
00:34:38,163 --> 00:34:40,953
which meant working
from 6:30 at night
773
00:34:40,991 --> 00:34:43,211
to 2:30 in the morning.
774
00:34:43,255 --> 00:34:46,475
- I didn't know Woodward
well at all.
775
00:34:46,519 --> 00:34:49,299
Didn't really take
very well to him
776
00:34:49,348 --> 00:34:51,828
from what I had seen of him
at the paper.
777
00:34:51,872 --> 00:34:53,922
- Oh, how come?
- He was, uh--
778
00:34:53,961 --> 00:34:58,311
Well, there were a group of us
actually that sort of thought
779
00:34:58,357 --> 00:35:00,917
that Woodward had come in
and moved very fast
780
00:35:00,968 --> 00:35:04,408
by kind of brown-nosing
the management a little bit.
781
00:35:04,450 --> 00:35:06,710
- It was tense.
782
00:35:06,756 --> 00:35:09,366
- But we were
very complimentary
783
00:35:09,411 --> 00:35:12,501
because we had this kind of
good cop, bad cop routine
784
00:35:12,545 --> 00:35:14,675
that Woodward
and I would do every day.
785
00:35:14,721 --> 00:35:18,161
- I was a young journalist
and I was hired by CBS
786
00:35:18,203 --> 00:35:20,773
and put in
the Washington bureau.
787
00:35:20,814 --> 00:35:23,954
So there was this break-in
at the Watergate
788
00:35:23,991 --> 00:35:25,731
at the
Democratic National Committee
789
00:35:25,775 --> 00:35:27,465
but no one thought--
no one thought
790
00:35:27,516 --> 00:35:30,166
it was anything more
than a local burglary
791
00:35:30,215 --> 00:35:32,125
anI walked
into the courtroom.
792
00:35:32,173 --> 00:35:33,833
There was only
one other reporter there
793
00:35:33,870 --> 00:35:35,960
and it was Bob Woodward.
794
00:35:36,003 --> 00:35:38,143
- They had sent me
to the court house.
795
00:35:38,179 --> 00:35:41,569
I sat in the front row when
the five Watergate burglars
796
00:35:41,617 --> 00:35:43,877
were arraigned
797
00:35:43,924 --> 00:35:47,234
and the judge asked
the lead burglar,
798
00:35:47,275 --> 00:35:49,095
James McCord,
"Where did you work?"
799
00:35:49,147 --> 00:35:52,367
And James McCord said...
"CIA."
800
00:35:52,411 --> 00:35:54,671
Judge said, "Speak up."
801
00:35:54,717 --> 00:35:58,717
And McCord finally said,
"CIA."
802
00:35:58,765 --> 00:36:02,635
And my reaction was...
803
00:36:02,682 --> 00:36:04,862
Holy shit.
804
00:36:04,901 --> 00:36:09,561
- The story went on page one
and that was the beginning.
805
00:36:09,602 --> 00:36:12,562
My aide, Ken Khachigian,
called me and he said
806
00:36:12,605 --> 00:36:16,035
they caught five guys in
the Watergate office complex.
807
00:36:16,086 --> 00:36:18,516
And my heart sank...
808
00:36:18,567 --> 00:36:20,607
because I...
809
00:36:20,656 --> 00:36:24,786
knew, not with hard knowledge
but just the way you know,
810
00:36:24,834 --> 00:36:27,054
our guys were involved.
811
00:36:27,097 --> 00:36:29,577
But that's not what
Mr. Buchanan said in public.
812
00:36:29,622 --> 00:36:30,932
- There is no White House
knowledge
813
00:36:30,971 --> 00:36:32,711
of the Watergate incident.
814
00:36:32,755 --> 00:36:34,235
There's been no White House
connection with it.
815
00:36:34,279 --> 00:36:36,149
Secondly,
the American people have
816
00:36:36,194 --> 00:36:38,074
a relatively high
tolerance level
817
00:36:38,108 --> 00:36:40,018
for the kind of bizarre,
818
00:36:40,067 --> 00:36:42,287
political episodes
of which this is one.
819
00:36:42,330 --> 00:36:43,850
narrator: CREEP
and the White House
820
00:36:43,897 --> 00:36:45,287
pretended
they didn't care
821
00:36:45,333 --> 00:36:46,863
about the
Watergate arrests
822
00:36:46,900 --> 00:36:48,420
but actually
they were terrified.
823
00:36:48,467 --> 00:36:50,727
Hugh Sloan was the
Treasurer of CREEP.
824
00:36:50,773 --> 00:36:53,523
- I came to work on June 17th.
825
00:36:53,559 --> 00:36:57,519
Evidently, the burglary had
happened in the early morning
826
00:36:57,563 --> 00:37:01,963
and Mr. Liddy passed me
in the hall, rather frantic,
827
00:37:02,002 --> 00:37:05,882
and said to me that,
"I made a terrible mistake.
828
00:37:05,919 --> 00:37:07,959
"I'm gonna lose my job.
829
00:37:08,008 --> 00:37:11,098
I used someone from here which
I told them I wouldn't do."
830
00:37:11,141 --> 00:37:14,621
- This is a police photograph
of James W. McCord.
831
00:37:14,667 --> 00:37:16,837
McCord is a former
CIA employee
832
00:37:16,886 --> 00:37:18,626
and guess what else he is?
833
00:37:18,671 --> 00:37:20,541
A consultant
to President Richard Nixon's
834
00:37:20,586 --> 00:37:22,326
re-election campaign committee.
835
00:37:22,370 --> 00:37:23,980
Paul Magallanes,
836
00:37:24,024 --> 00:37:26,244
a young, Spanish-speaking
FBI agent,
837
00:37:26,287 --> 00:37:28,197
was assigned
to interview the burglars.
838
00:37:28,246 --> 00:37:30,766
- I went there
and I interviewed the Cubans.
839
00:37:30,813 --> 00:37:32,293
You know,
"What happened here?"
840
00:37:32,337 --> 00:37:34,117
And they kept
responding to me,
841
00:37:34,164 --> 00:37:35,914
in Spanish,
this was all in Spanish,
842
00:37:35,949 --> 00:37:37,989
"Paul, you know."
843
00:37:38,038 --> 00:37:40,518
He says, "We're working
for the same man."
844
00:37:40,562 --> 00:37:42,042
I said, "What are you
talking about,
845
00:37:42,085 --> 00:37:43,215
working for the same man?"
846
00:37:43,261 --> 00:37:44,871
He says, "Yeah."
847
00:37:44,914 --> 00:37:46,444
He says, "We're working
for the president.
848
00:37:46,481 --> 00:37:48,701
You're working
for the president."
849
00:37:48,744 --> 00:37:51,444
And he says,
"Everything will be all right.
850
00:37:51,486 --> 00:37:53,306
You know, we're gonna be
taken care of."
851
00:37:53,358 --> 00:37:55,318
The burglars
were taken care of
852
00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:57,320
as part of a huge cover-up operation
853
00:37:57,362 --> 00:37:59,062
run by CREEP and the White House.
854
00:37:59,102 --> 00:38:01,672
Involving payoffs, political pressure,
855
00:38:01,714 --> 00:38:04,804
destruction of evidence, and lying to the FBI.
856
00:38:04,847 --> 00:38:07,497
It was all coordinated by John Dean.
857
00:38:07,546 --> 00:38:09,326
Although Dean had initially opposed
858
00:38:09,374 --> 00:38:11,464
the White House's
crazier schemes,
859
00:38:11,506 --> 00:38:13,116
managing the Watergate cover-up
860
00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:14,680
was both a job requirement
861
00:38:14,727 --> 00:38:16,857
and a major career opportunity.
862
00:38:16,903 --> 00:38:18,913
- Liddy tells me,
863
00:38:18,948 --> 00:38:22,078
"I need money to get
these guys out of jail
864
00:38:22,125 --> 00:38:25,125
because of
their earlier exploits."
865
00:38:25,172 --> 00:38:29,132
But he said, "John, something
you should know and take back
866
00:38:29,176 --> 00:38:34,046
"to your superiors is that
two of the men I used
867
00:38:34,094 --> 00:38:36,314
"in the Watergate operation,
868
00:38:36,357 --> 00:38:38,967
"I used earlier
in an operation
869
00:38:39,012 --> 00:38:41,142
that was authorized
by the White House."
870
00:38:41,188 --> 00:38:43,888
And this had to do
with the break-in
871
00:38:43,930 --> 00:38:46,240
at Ellsberg's
psychiatrist's office
872
00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:49,590
which was an eye opener to me.
I didn't know about this.
873
00:38:49,631 --> 00:38:51,981
So this thing suddenly
874
00:38:52,025 --> 00:38:54,155
brings
these two events together.
875
00:38:54,201 --> 00:38:56,731
- There were these entries
in the address books
876
00:38:56,769 --> 00:38:58,859
of two of the burglars.
877
00:38:58,901 --> 00:39:04,041
"W House - H. Hunt."
Or Howard Hunt.
878
00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:06,740
Just called the White House
and asked for Howard Hunt.
879
00:39:06,779 --> 00:39:12,179
The operator said, "I think
he's in Mr. Colson's office."
880
00:39:12,219 --> 00:39:15,399
I eventually got Hunt
on the phone
881
00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:19,880
and asked why his name was
in the address books
882
00:39:19,922 --> 00:39:23,972
of two of the people arrested
at the Democratic headquarters
883
00:39:24,013 --> 00:39:27,503
and he shouted out, "Good God."
884
00:39:27,539 --> 00:39:30,019
Slammed down the phone
and left town.
885
00:39:34,676 --> 00:39:37,026
- I was worried that
we might be libeling Hunt
886
00:39:37,070 --> 00:39:39,030
because I didn't know
what he did.
887
00:39:39,072 --> 00:39:42,472
So I called Mark Felt
888
00:39:42,510 --> 00:39:45,380
who was at the FBI.
889
00:39:45,426 --> 00:39:49,206
I had met him when I worked
as courier for the Pentagon
890
00:39:49,256 --> 00:39:51,256
going to the White House.
891
00:39:51,301 --> 00:39:56,261
And Felt said, "Don't worry.
Hunt's deeply involved."
892
00:39:56,306 --> 00:40:00,216
Carl and myself called
Mark Felt "Deep Throat."
893
00:40:00,267 --> 00:40:02,267
- The reason Deep Throat
is important,
894
00:40:02,312 --> 00:40:04,712
one, is we knew we were right.
895
00:40:04,750 --> 00:40:08,800
He confirmed information
that we had obtained elsewhere.
896
00:40:08,841 --> 00:40:10,671
So we knew we were right.
897
00:40:10,712 --> 00:40:12,892
- Deep Throat happened
to be the number two man
898
00:40:12,932 --> 00:40:14,802
at the FBI,
Mark Felt,
899
00:40:14,847 --> 00:40:17,887
and one of his
primary motivations,
900
00:40:17,937 --> 00:40:19,937
if not the primary motivation,
901
00:40:19,982 --> 00:40:22,252
was that he had been
passed over
902
00:40:22,289 --> 00:40:24,549
by Nixon and Haldeman
when they picked Patrick Gray
903
00:40:24,596 --> 00:40:27,246
to be Director of the FBI.
904
00:40:27,294 --> 00:40:31,044
And so here was a classic case
of a Washington bureaucrat
905
00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:34,170
leaking to damage
the guy above him
906
00:40:34,214 --> 00:40:35,784
who got the job he wanted.
907
00:40:35,824 --> 00:40:37,914
- "The Washington Post"
reported today
908
00:40:37,957 --> 00:40:40,347
that Hunt's name was found
in the address books
909
00:40:40,394 --> 00:40:43,144
of two of the five men
arrested in the incident.
910
00:40:43,179 --> 00:40:46,309
Hunt's immediate supervisor,
White House Special Counsel,
911
00:40:46,356 --> 00:40:49,746
Charles Colson, denies
any knowledge of the incident.
912
00:40:49,795 --> 00:40:51,095
A few weeks later,
913
00:40:51,144 --> 00:40:52,804
the FBI arrested
Hunt and Liddy,
914
00:40:52,841 --> 00:40:54,541
but they stopped there.
915
00:40:54,582 --> 00:40:56,892
The cover-up
prevented further arrests
916
00:40:56,932 --> 00:40:58,762
and FBI Director,
L. Patrick Gray,
917
00:40:58,804 --> 00:41:00,464
didn't like leaks either.
918
00:41:00,501 --> 00:41:02,941
- We're called at home
on a Friday night,
919
00:41:02,982 --> 00:41:04,552
"Be in the Washington
field office
920
00:41:04,592 --> 00:41:06,512
"at 8:00,
8:15 Saturday morning.
921
00:41:06,551 --> 00:41:09,601
Be in your best suit.
Be ready to see the director."
922
00:41:09,641 --> 00:41:12,641
And as we go
into the meeting room,
923
00:41:12,687 --> 00:41:18,387
out comes Gray and he launches
into a bizarre rant.
924
00:41:18,432 --> 00:41:21,572
"I want the agent or agents
who leaked this information
925
00:41:21,609 --> 00:41:24,869
to take one step forward."
926
00:41:24,917 --> 00:41:26,957
And now we're all...
927
00:41:27,006 --> 00:41:29,876
"Whoa, what is this?"
928
00:41:29,922 --> 00:41:32,322
You could
forgive Gray for being tense.
929
00:41:32,359 --> 00:41:34,539
He knew he was sitting
on a powder keg
930
00:41:34,579 --> 00:41:37,149
and that the Nixon White House
wanted him to play nice.
931
00:41:37,190 --> 00:41:38,930
Only a week
after the burglary,
932
00:41:38,974 --> 00:41:41,634
Nixon and Haldeman
had tried using the CIA
933
00:41:41,673 --> 00:41:43,943
to shut down
the FBI investigation.
934
00:41:43,979 --> 00:41:47,419
Nixon chose Vernon Walters,
the Deputy Director of the CIA
935
00:41:47,461 --> 00:41:48,941
to deliver a message to Gray.
936
00:41:55,556 --> 00:41:58,906
- Now,
on the Democratic break-in,
937
00:41:58,951 --> 00:42:01,001
we're back in
the problem area.
938
00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:03,740
Because the FBI
is not under control.
939
00:42:03,782 --> 00:42:07,052
Because Gray doesn't exactly
know how to control them.
940
00:42:07,089 --> 00:42:10,699
John Dean concurs now with
Mitchell's recommendation
941
00:42:10,745 --> 00:42:14,225
that the only way to solve this
is to have Walters call Gray
942
00:42:14,270 --> 00:42:17,580
and just say,
"Stay the hell out of this.
943
00:42:17,622 --> 00:42:19,842
We don't want you
to go any further on it."
944
00:42:19,885 --> 00:42:21,405
And that's not unusual.
945
00:42:21,451 --> 00:42:23,191
- Pat Gray doesn't want
to control them?
946
00:42:23,236 --> 00:42:25,586
- Pat does want to.
He doesn't know how to
947
00:42:25,630 --> 00:42:28,280
and he doesn't have any basis
for doing it.
948
00:42:28,328 --> 00:42:29,848
And that will fit rather well
949
00:42:29,895 --> 00:42:31,675
because the agents
working the case
950
00:42:31,723 --> 00:42:33,333
feel that this is CIA.
951
00:42:33,376 --> 00:42:35,066
- But they've...
952
00:42:35,117 --> 00:42:38,207
traced the money.
- They've traced a name
953
00:42:38,251 --> 00:42:40,251
but they haven't gotten
to the guy yet.
954
00:42:40,296 --> 00:42:42,686
Now it's directly traceable.
955
00:42:42,734 --> 00:42:45,304
And there's more.
956
00:42:45,345 --> 00:42:48,085
We're relying on more
and more people all the time.
957
00:42:48,130 --> 00:42:50,130
That's a problem.
958
00:42:50,176 --> 00:42:53,046
They'll stop
if we take this other way.
959
00:42:54,789 --> 00:42:57,619
- Right.
Fine.
960
00:42:57,662 --> 00:42:59,662
- And they say
the only way to do that...
961
00:42:59,707 --> 00:43:02,187
is from White House
instructions.
962
00:43:02,231 --> 00:43:05,411
It's gotta be Helms
and uh, what's his name?
963
00:43:05,452 --> 00:43:07,372
- Walters.
964
00:43:07,410 --> 00:43:10,590
- The proposal would be
that Ehrlichman and I call him.
965
00:43:13,591 --> 00:43:16,551
- All right, fine.
966
00:43:16,594 --> 00:43:19,904
How do you--well...
967
00:43:19,945 --> 00:43:22,595
we protected Helms from
one hell of a lot of things.
968
00:43:22,643 --> 00:43:25,043
- Well, that's what
Ehrlichman says.
969
00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:29,520
The FBI interviewed
Colson yesterday.
970
00:43:29,563 --> 00:43:32,703
The FBI guys working the case
had concluded it was either
971
00:43:32,740 --> 00:43:34,870
a White House operation
or it was--
972
00:43:34,916 --> 00:43:36,566
- Cuban thing.
973
00:43:36,614 --> 00:43:39,014
- Cubans and the CIA.
974
00:43:39,051 --> 00:43:41,491
And after their interrogation
of Colson yesterday
975
00:43:41,531 --> 00:43:43,531
they concluded
it was not the White House
976
00:43:43,577 --> 00:43:45,667
but are now convinced
it's the CIA.
977
00:43:45,710 --> 00:43:48,100
So the CIA turn off would--
- Good.
978
00:43:48,147 --> 00:43:50,187
Play it tough.
979
00:43:50,236 --> 00:43:51,886
That's the way they play it,
that's the way
980
00:43:51,933 --> 00:43:55,073
we're gonna play it.
- Okay, then we'll do that.
981
00:43:55,110 --> 00:43:59,510
- Just say,
it was aomedy of errors...
982
00:43:59,549 --> 00:44:02,069
and they should
call the FBI in
983
00:44:02,117 --> 00:44:04,377
and say that,
for the country,
984
00:44:04,424 --> 00:44:06,344
don't go any further
into this one.
985
00:44:06,382 --> 00:44:07,472
Period.
986
00:44:07,514 --> 00:44:09,784
Tell them, lay off.
987
00:44:09,821 --> 00:44:12,481
- Yeah, that's the basis
we do it on.
988
00:44:12,519 --> 00:44:16,089
- I don't want them
to get any ideas
989
00:44:16,131 --> 00:44:19,701
that we're doing it because
our concern is political.
72763
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