Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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UPI Wirephotocourtesy of the Athens Messenger UPI Wirephoto courtesy of the Athens Messenger ABOVE LEFT: A portrait of Nixon is being removed and replaced with Ford ' s portrait in the U.S. Embassy in Bonn, West Germany. ABOVE: Nixon confers with Ford in the Oval Office and informs him of his coming resignation. 21

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Nixon Catches Up With Himself A Historical First: The Resignation Of a President BY ELLEN MILLER This is the 37th time I have spoken to you from this office in which so many decisions have been made that shape the history of this nation . . . With that introduction, in his 37th speech as President of the United States, the 37th President of the United States resigned, a first in the history of the country and a decision which would shape the history that was so quickly shaping the nature of politics and the future. In many ways, the nation breathed a sigh of relief. The man of whom they had been suspicious for so long was out and, although President Gerald R. Ford, Richard M. Nixon ' s successor, had been appointed by Nixon himself (another historical first which meant that an unelected man would be leading the country) after former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned, the people wanted to believe in a leader again. So they put their faith in the new president and hoped that the long nightmare of Watergate had finally come to an end. Just how long that faith would last remained to be seen. What brought about the resignation of a man who had sought the presidency his entire life and who had won by the largest landslide in history when finally elected? Watergate had been trying to CREEP (pun intended) into the Oval Office ever since the first publicity on the third rate burglary. Nixon had been steadily denying his involvement or any knowledge of the scandal. But when the Supreme Court ruled that Nixon must relinquish the tapes, it was only a matter of time. On July 31, 1974, Nixon ' s lawyer, James St. Clair, received and read transcripts of three taped conversations between Nixon and Chief of Staff H.R. Bob Haldeman from July, 1972. The tapes showed that Nixon had, indeed, known about the Watergate break-in and had, in fact, suggested cover-up actions. St. Clair, who realized the impact of the contents of the transcripts, contacted Alexander Haig, Haldeman ' s successor. They knew that the transcripts would soon become public; they decided that they must persuade Nixon to resign. Nixon resisted. He pursued his cover-up to the end. But in a meeting with top-ranking Republican senators, including Barry Goldwater, Nixon was informed that his Congressional support was gone. Again he was advised to resign. On Thursday, August 8, 1974, Nixon notified Gerald R. Ford that he was about to become the 38th President of the United States. For awhile, Ford was the epitome of the perfect president, the all-American boy, grass-roots, a family man, the UPl Wirephoto courtesy of the Athens Messenger ABOVE Former President Nixon and Pat stand together in the East Room of the White House where he made a farewell address to members of the White House staff. Nixon then boarded a helicopter for a short flight to Andrews Air Force Base where Air Force I was waiting to fly he and his family to San Clemente American dream. Perhaps the nation just wanted to believe in a man who fixed his own English muffins for breakfast or maybe that dream was reality. But again, American hopes were shaken when Ford made his decision to grant Nixon, who had been named an unindicted co-conspirator, a full, free and absolute pardon for all offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969, through August 9, 1974. With that decision. Ford reopened the suspicion that had been cast over the office of the presidency and closed the door on the opportunity that Nixon would ever be brought to justice. He eliminated the chance for the judicial system of the country to work. Popular reaction was that the entire situation had been arranged prior to Nixon ' s resignation. But some sympathizers advocated that Nixon had suffered enough. With the passage of time, the conviction of other Watergate conspirators and the realization of the nation ' s other problems, such as its economic situation, anxiety began to dwindle. The crisis was over. It was time to move on. 20

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UPI Wirephoto courtesy of Ihe Athens Messenger ABOVE: John Ehrlichman. former advisor of domestic affairs, found guilty and sen- tenced to two and one-half to eight years in prison. UPI Wirephoto. courtesy of the Athens Messenger ABOVE: H.R Bob Haldeman, former White House chief of staff found guilty and sentenced to two and one-half to eight years in prison. UPI Wirephoto courtesy of the Athens Messenger ABOVE: John Mitchell, former attorney general, found guilty and sentenced to two and one-half to eight years in prison. Mitchell told newsmen, It could have been worse — they could have sentenced me to live with Martha. H.R. Bob Haldeman. John Ehrlichman. John Mitchell. Robert Mardian. Kenneth Parkinson. By the time they went on trial in Judge John Sirica ' s courtroom September 30, 1974, their names had been in the news for nearly two years. Most Americans were sick of Watergate by the time Richard Nixon ' s associates faced prosecution for conspiracy to obstruct justice. Though they wanted to hear the truth, for once and for all, they also wanted the whole episode to end. The Watergate trials, it seemed, were the culmination of the long, painful drama that had rocked the nation and caused the resignation of the President of the United States. Richard Nixon was pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, and thus saved from being tried for any crimes he may have committed during his stay in office. His closest advisors, however, had been indicted by a federal grand jury, and ironically enough, the pardon of their former boss was the biggest issue at stake when the trial began. Since they claimed to have been acting on Nixon ' s orders, the defendants hoped to be pardoned too. Though they formally requested pardons from Ford, they were not granted them. The defendants, however, also hoped that Nixon ' s pardon would force him to testify, since he could not claim self-incrimination on the stand. Some of them based their plans on his testimony, but as the former president ' s health deteriorated that fall, and it began to look like he might be unable to appear, their strategy shifted. They began to turn on one another, each desperately trying to save himself. The defendants made no attempt to deny the existence of a complex coverup, but each of them claimed either to have played a minor role, or to have been duped by the others. The actual courtroom proceedings were unusual, to say the least. Often there were long periods of silence, when judge, jury, defendants and spectators alike donned earphones to listen to the famous Watergate tapes, in their unedited version. The tapes gave an even more shocking picture of the coverup and apparently had a great impact on the jury. Some of the most damaging comments had been edited in the written transcripts, and Nixon, particularly, lost credibility. According to the tapes, Nixon, Haldeman and Ehrlichman had tried to frame Mitchell. Haldeman appeared as the real bad guy. Ehrlichman also seemed to have been misled by Nixon and Haldeman in some instances, but the testimony of Herbert Kalmbach severly damaged Ehrlichman ' s chances for acquittal. Though Robert Mardian was not a central figure, several witnesses testified that he had cooperated in the coverup. It also seemed that Kenneth Parkinson, the last of the five defendants, was linked with payments of hush money. Sirica was outspoken and sometimes sharp with the attorneys who argued the case for the defense. John J. Wilson, Haldeman ' s lawyer, particularly tested the judge ' s patience, and the two men had some stinging exchanges before the startled courtroom spectators. Sirica ' s outspokenness created much controversy throughout the proceedings, and some heavy criticism from legal circles. Several lawyers felt his actions could be grounds for mistrial. However, since he usually confined his comments to times when the jury was not present, mistrial action would have been difficult. The lawyers of the defendants often seemed to be baiting the judge, in hopes that an outrageous comment in rebuttal would increase their clients ' chances for a new trial. Two months after the trial began, three physicians, who had been appointed by the court, presented their evaluation of former President Nixon ' s condition to Sirica. He might not be able to appear in Washington until February 16, they 22