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Watergate Primary Source Worksheet
U.S. v. Nixon (1974)
What were the three reasons that Nixon gave for refusing to turn over the White House tapes?
Argued that the court did not have the power to demand to see that tapes.
Argued that essentially the tapes were between the President and special prosecutor, therefore pretty much not the courts business nor problem.
He argued that he had the right to withhold information and the privilege to do so if the information was for confidentiality and sensitive.
What do these reasons illustrate about Nixon’s understanding of the division of power within the federal government?
How did Nixon’s argument illustrate his ideas about the power of the presidency?
What did Chief Justice Burger say about the origins of executive privilege? How does this origin justify his decision about Nixon releasing the tapes?
Explain Burger’s statement, “A President and those who assist him must be free to explore alternatives in a way many would be unwilling to express except privately.” How did the court interpret executive privilege?
Do you agree with this analysis that United States v. Nixon expanded the power of the presidency? Why or why not?
Transcript of White House Tapes, June 23, 1972 – conversation between
President Nixon and Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman. (Note: Pat Gray is the
Acting Director of the FBI, and Mark Felt is the Associate Director of the FBI.
Helms is the Director of the CIA and Walters is the Deputy Director of the
CIA)
Haldeman tells Nixon, “the FBI is not under control.” Why does the FBI need to be controlled?
What is Nixon’s plan for dealing with the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate break-in?
What does this excerpt imply about the relationship between the FBI and the CIA?
What does this tape reveal about Nixon’s view of his power as the president?
Why is this tape called the “Smoking Gun” tape?