On This Day: Saturday Night Massacre

The downfall of Richard M. Nixon’s Presidency began on the evening of June 17, 1972, with the break-in of the Democratic National Committee’s offices in the Washington, D.C., Watergate Complex.  This break-in brought the indictment of five members of Nixon’s Committee to Re-elect the President, as well as two others, on charges of conspiracy, burglary, and violation of federal wiretapping laws.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the scandal though, came on November 17, 1973, when Nixon held a question-and-answer session with 400 Associated Press managing editors in what would be coined as the Saturday Night Massacre.  During this tense, televised, hour-long conference Nixon fielded questions from the editors, at one point professing “People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got”.  These words, “I’m not a crook”, would later become synonymous with the corrupt image of Nixon and his administration.

The Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C.

Though he steadfastly denied any involvement with the Watergate case, it later became favorable opinion that he was well aware of the plan – most markedly in the fact that he resigned from the Presidency only nine months later.  Due to a waning sense of trust among the American people, loss of support from his political allies, and near certainty of impeachment and conviction, Nixon tendered his resignation to Sec. of State Henry A. Kissinger on August 9, 1974.  The letter simply stated “I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States”.  Though the resignation brought the Congress to drop the impeachment proceedings there was still the possibility of criminal charges.  Accordingly, Nixon’s vice-president and successor, Gerald Ford, issued a full pardon on his behalf only a month later.

The Washington Post covered the events of the Saturday Night Massacre in an article published the following day.  It can be found by clicking here.

For further information on the Watergate Scandal, check out “The Wars of Watergate“.

You may also like:

1. “I Beg Your Pardon!” A Short List of Presidential Pardons The power to pardon is the only inalienable right that...
2. Reminder: This Saturday is Museum Day Saturday, September 26th, is the the 5th Annual Museum Day,...
3. Links of Interest: EiH 2K9 Year in Review Edition This past January, I started EiH, mostly because of my...
4. 50 Years of 50 States: Washington Nickname: The Evergreen State Date Ratified: November 11, 1889 (42nd)...