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Nixon pursuit for knowledge and power

Written by: Britton Mickelson









Britton Mickelson
Salt lake Community College
Cassandra Clark
History 1700-039
4/20/2013
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There is an old saying that knowledge is power. If you really think about it, knowledge
is power. The more knowledge someone has the more powerful that individual becomes. Some
individuals are driven to become powerful through the pursuit of knowledge. But not the
academic sense of knowledge. Nixon for example is an individual driven to be great. He was a
politician that was driven to become powerful through the pursuit of knowledge, but knowledge
to read his enemies minds, to understand their perspectives and arguments. But whenever an
individual pursues power politically, they will always make enemies during their pursuit to
power and the problem with making enemies is they will be just as driven to pursue you and
damage you creditability as a leader of the people. But what if there was a way to silence your
naysayers or to drown them out? Nixon, during his term as President of the United States,
developed a way.
Most individuals in the United States of American believe that if you are a politician or at
least a high ranking politician (examples: senator, congressman, Vice President, President, etc...)
you were born rich or at least well off. In Richard Nixon case this is not the reality. Richard
Nixon was born January 9
th
1913 in Yorba Linda, California in very humble circumstances.
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His
upbringing was marked by Hardships and trails, but regardless of his circumstances he excelled
academically.
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By the time Nixon was 24 he had graduated third in his class from Duke
University Law School.
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Nixon after college pursued a political career. He was elected a
member of the United States House of Representatives in 1947, became a United State Senator in
1950, Vice president to Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 and finally the highest political office in

1 Feeney, Mark. Nixon at the Movies: A Book about Belief. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 2004. Pages 3
2 Feeney, Mark. Nixon at the Movies: A Book about Belief. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 2004. Pages 10-12
3 Feeney, Mark. Nixon at the Movies: A Book about Belief. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 2004. Page 12
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the United States The President of the United states in 1969.
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I feel its good to understand
where Richard Nixon came from. Realize he had very little coming into this world but
eventually rose through his pursuit of power to the highest office/position awarded by the
American public and in essence became one of the worlds most powerful individuals. I explain
these chains of events to show that Richard Nixon regardless of his flaws was intellectually
gifted, but to also illustrate how driven Richard Nixon was to obtain power. After listening to
this brief summary of his life, Richard Nixon sounds like a real Rags to Richs Story. During
Nixon tenure as president (primarily his second term as President of the United States) he got
caught up in a scandal that would forever scar his legacy.
When Watergate scandal became a media sensation no one felt that most trusted
highest political office could be involved.
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The Water Scandal in short involved a break in at the
Democratic National committee headquarters in Washington D.C., the five burglars involved in
the break in stole copies of sensitive top secret documents and wire tapped key member phones.
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When these burglars were caught it was not clear at the time that Nixon was involved, but
through a thorough investigation, investigators found out that the white house was involved, but
not just the White House, the President himself.
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It shocked the entire nation. How could the
president, Richard Nixon be involved with this scandal? After all he was supposed to be
dedicated to make tough decisions, committed to helping the American people, be the ultimate
example of a leader and loyal friend? Why the betrayal of public trust? The answer is simple.

4 Feeney, Mark. Nixon at the Movies: A Book about Belief. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 2004.Pages .35-39
5 Nixon, Richard. The smoking gun. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/smoking-gun
6 Nixon, Richard. The smoking gun. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/smoking-gun
7 Nixon, Richard. The smoking gun. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/smoking-gun
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Nixon wanted the power and ability to control the outcome of any situation he was involved in.
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It is as simple as young man having the ability to control his bullies lives; to intellectually
counter any offensive measure a potential bully may try to break you down. He was paranoid to
silence his enemies and even his friends.
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The best part about the Nixon involvement was that he
had an audio journal of the entire thing. Yep, the Intellectual genius secretly recorded every
conversation that took place in the Oval Office.
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During the Senate investigation of Watergate
Scandal key members of Richard Nixon staff testified to prosecutors that the tapes recorded in
oral office would confirm Nixon involvement.
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Nixon fought the accusations and argued that he
was entitled to keep them base on his presidential power of executive privilege. Eventually
Nixon surrendered some of the tapes after a series of events that damage his credibility as a
trusted public servant.
After the tapes were released the Nixon cover-up began to unravel. He hired a team and
not just any team. He wanted Young bearcats that thought on the Conspiracy side of
things.
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To put it in layman's terms he wanted young dumb Nixonites(my made up term) who
were willing to do anything for the sake of the nation, but in reality these individuals were

8 Nixon, Richard. Cancer on the Presidency. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University
of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/cancer-presidency
9 Nixon, Richard. You could get a million dollars. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-
could-get-million-dollars
10 Nixon, Richard. Destroying the Watergate Tapes. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia,1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/destroying-
watergate-tapes
11 Nixon, Richard. If it blows it blows. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia,1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/if-it-blows-it-blows
12 Nixon, Richard. You need a team. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1971. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-need-team
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willing follow orders blindly and without question.
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They were all selected because Nixon and
his band shady advisors felt they could be trusted to keep silent if things did not go according to
plan when they were planning on break into the Democratic National committee headquarters
and spy on key members to obtain sensitive information that wouldnt be privy to the president
other than by corrupted means.
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After the arrest of these 5 individuals who broke in the Democratic National committee
headquarters were arrested. They began to get questioned by the FBI, eventually those questions
lead to trails and those trials lead to accusations that began to unravel the true character and
intentions of Nixon.
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Nixon realizing that these individual had been caught did what any corrupt
leader would do in his situation. He started pay Hush money.
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John Dean a member of the
White House Counsel Advice president Nixon that over the next two years that the threat of
blackmail was going to be a serious concern and that during this two year period(1971-1973) it
was going to be rough going and will cost nearly 2 Million dollars to keep these individuals
who were going to prison quiet.
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To help put things into perspective 2 Million dollars during the
1970s is equivalent to nearly 12 Million dollars today. But Nixon made it sound like it wasnt
going to issue to provide Hush money to whomever or wherever it needed to go. Nixon responds
to John Dean Concerns about the money, if you need the money, you could get the money fairly

13 Nixon, Richard. You need a team. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1971. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-need-team
14 Nixon, Richard. You need a team. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1971.Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-need-team
15 Nixon, Richard. If it blows it blows. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia,1972. Web.http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/if-it-blows-it-blows
16 Nixon, Richard. You could get a million dollars. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia,1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-
could-get-million-dollars
17 Nixon, Richard. You could get a million dollars. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-
could-get-million-dollars
6

easily And you could get it in cash. I know where it could be gotten Nixon the president of
United States made the hush money concern sound like a non-issue.
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The biggest issue with blackmail though, is that it spreads like a Cancer, once you give
someone a little bit cash, they want more.
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John Dean realizing this Hush Money approached
wasnt going to be enough to keep imprisoned individuals silent, devised another plan and
advised Nixon that there was a cancer within presidency, [that it was] growing daily. Nixon
and Dean were concerned that leaks of intelligence were becoming a growing problem.
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So
Nixon and his band of cronys develop a way to stop the leaks. Hire Plumbers Not literally but
Nixon allowed Dean and Gordan Liddy (Liddy was the Nixon Administration liaison) to build
another team to help stop the leak of information (or knowledge of their corrupted deeds).
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Nixon and Dean discussed ways to silence anyone associated with the Watergate break-ins and
the ensuing Watergate Scandal. The plans was that these Plumbers would silence anyone by
involved black bag operations, kidnapping, providing prostitutes to weaken the opposition,

18 Nixon, Richard. You could get a million dollars. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-
could-get-million-dollars
19 Nixon, Richard. Cancer on the Presidency. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/cancer-
presidency
20 Nixon, Richard. Cancer on the Presidency. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/cancer-
presidency
21 Nixon, Richard. Cancer on the Presidency. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/cancer-
presidency
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bugging, [and] mugging teams. Pretty much use any means necessary team to keep
individuals silent and to keep key information safe from any opposition.
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Bob Halderman (Chief of Staff during Nixon presidency) Assured President Nixon that
the Plumbers were doing their Job and that the hush money was keeping individuals silent. But
Nixon was paranoid and wanted to make sure his minions were keeping a lid on his involvement
in the Watergate scandal.
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But Nixon was obsessed with keeping his rags to riches
appearance. Nixon Solution was to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude and Fire (anyone) for not
cooperating.
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Nixon other solution was destroying the tapes that mentioned his involvement
with the water gate scandal. He goes as far to say and I quote I don't want to have in the record
discussions we've had in this room on Watergate.
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But unfortunately for Nixon, neither Nixon
nor any of staffers destroyed any tapes confirming his involvement.
Every corrupt story has a boiling point and Nixon pursuit of power and knowledge landed
him in a tight spot. When the tapes were released 1974, there was one tape that was reviewed by
the prosecutors that made Nixon image of rags to riches appear to be another man tale from
another time. The tape that ended Nixon political career and immortalized him as shifty-eyed
goddamn liar was labeled as The Smoking Gun.
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The tape was a recorded conversation that

22 Nixon, Richard. Cancer on the Presidency. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973.Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/cancer-
presidency
23 Nixon, Richard. If it blows it blows. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia,1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/if-it-blows-it-blows
24 Nixon, Richard. If it blows it blows. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia,1972. Web.http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/if-it-blows-it-blows
25 Nixon, Richard. Destroying the Watergate Tapes. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia,1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/destroying-
watergate-tapes
26 Nixon, Richard. The smoking gun. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/smoking-gun
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Nixon had with Bob Halderman about how they were going to thwart the Watergate
investigations by having the CIA falsely claim to the FBI that there was National security
involved, therefore the hope was the investigation would be passed on to the CIA and the under
President Nixon direction the CIA would calmly and quietly close the investigation.
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Needless
to say the plan didnt work and two days after this particular tape was released and the looming
threat of impeachment became a reality, Nixon resigned from office. In Nixon Resignation
speech his tell everyone over national television that he did what was best for the nation, that
over the coming months [he was] going to fight for [his] vindication and involvement in the
Watergate scandal.
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The aftermath of Nixon involvement in the Watergate scandal is simple. He
was pardon, or in other words vindicated by none other than Gerald Ford his former Vice
president, less than a month after his formal resignation.
In conclusion, Nixon pursuit of knowledge and power create a number of enemies that
did not hesitate to blackmail and thrash the former President reputation.
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Nixon legacy will
forever be synonymously linked with the Watergate scandal. He will never be known for his rags
to riches story but as the liar and coward that betrayed a nation; a nation that trusted him while
he was holding the highest political office awarded to an individual by the American public;
being perceived as dedicated, committed, and a loyal leader of the people. Nixon downfall was to

27 Nixon, Richard. The smoking gun. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/smoking-gun
28 Nixon, Richard. Nixon Resignation Speech. Washington D.C.: National Television,
1974 Web. http://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/aug-1974-president-nixon-resigns
-10549613
29 Nixon, Richard. You could get a million dollars. Washington D.C.: Miller Center
University of Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-
could-get-million-dollars
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obtain knowledge, a sufficient knowledge of his enemies to become the ideal supreme leader.
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To have enough power to control the action of others; I cant help but wonder what Nixon legacy
would have been like if he would of not gotten caught? He probably would have gone into the
history books as one of the best American presidents of his generation. Regardless of the what
ifs, it true that Knowledge is power but if you going to spy on your enemies be sure not to get
caught because that when the powers shifts.












30 Nixon, Richard. Nixon Resignation Speech. Washington D.C.: National Television,
1974 Web. http://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/aug-1974-president-nixon-resigns
-10549613
10

Bibliography

Feeney, Mark. Nixon at the Movies: A Book about Belief. Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
2004.

Nixon, Richard. The smoking gun. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of Virginia,
1972.Web.http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/smoking-gun

Nixon, Richard. You need a team. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of Virginia,
1971.Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-need-team

Nixon, Richard. You could get a million dollars. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/you-could-get-million-
dollars

Nixon, Richard. Cancer on the Presidency. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia, 1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/cancer-presidency

Nixon, Richard. If it blows it blows. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of Virginia
,1972. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/if-it-blows-it-blows

Nixon, Richard. Destroying the Watergate Tapes. Washington D.C.: Miller Center University of
Virginia,1973. Web. http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/nixon/destroying-watergate-
tapes

Nixon, Richard. Nixon Resignation Speech. Washington D.C.: National Television, 1974 Web.
http://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/aug-1974-president-nixon-resigns- 10549613