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WATERGATE: SCAPEGOAT {PART 3 OF 5} (TV)

Summary

The first of two programs on this tape. The third in this five-part series. Daniel Schorr narrates this examination of Richard M. Nixon and the Watergate scandal, which includes commentary from many of the former president's closest advisers as well as Nixon's own thoughts from an interview taped with David Frost in 1977. Schorr begins by discussing the "crucial" time in Nixon's presidency after his second inauguration, and the utterly wrong choices he made. Despite all the inaugural celebrations, Nixon was still embroiled in a criminal conspiracy due to the Watergate break-in. Then, on February 7, 1973, Nixon received some alarming news when the Senate voted to establish a committee to investigate the Watergate break-in. H.R. Haldeman, White House chief of staff, John Ehrlichman, chief domestic adviser, and John Dean, Nixon's counsel, holed up to devise further plans to keep co-conspirators silent. On March 21, 1973, Dean met with Nixon and warned him of a "cancer within" the presidency -- the cover-up -- which he felt would ultimately end Nixon's political life unless he stopped it. Footage shows Nixon telling Frost that he considered paying off break-in team member E. Howard Hunt, still out on bail. Dean further explains how they needed to raise a million dollars to pay off Hunt. Also, they had to figure out a way to hush James McCord, another Watergate defendant. But, McCord created a "crack" in the cover-up by writing a letter to the trial judge implicating Dean and Jeb Magruder, deputy campaign manager. Soon, the press was bombarding Dean, who was forced to escape to Camp David, thinking that he was going to be asked to take the fall. By the time Dean returned to Washington, he was determined not to be Nixon's scapegoat. Dean sought the advice of top criminal lawyer Charles Shaffer, hoping to get immunity for evidence offered. Haldeman recalls learning that Dean was going to the prosecutors, fearing that Dean would sink the cover-up. Back in the Oval Office, Nixon held a "crisis meeting," trying to find a new scapegoat, and ultimately settling on Mitchell. Meanwhile, Magruder went to the prosecutors to corroborate Dean's story. As Nixon went to Key Biscayne for Easter, he tried to figure out how to fire Haldeman and Ehrlichman. Nixon recalls the details of firing the co-conspirators. Then, on April 30, 1973, Nixon went on television to note that he had "cleaned up" his administration by firing Haldeman and Erlichman, and that he accepted Dean's resignation. At that point, Dean was ready to tell the whole story, sparing no one, including the president. The Senate Watergate Committee decided to give immunity to Dean if he wrote a statement detailing his entire role in the cover-up. Clips show Dean's Senate testimony, revealing specifics in "chilling detail." Meanwhile, Nixon had to worry about public ridicule as comedians such as John Belushi were mocking the proceedings. Nixon appeared on television claiming no prior knowledge of the Watergate break-in and future cover-up. Then, Dean publicly speculated that Nixon was taping meetings between the two. Alexander Butterfield, a former White House aide who actually knew of the secret tapings, details how he tried not to perjure himself while also not revealing the existence of Nixon's tapes. Jim Hamilton, committee investigator, discusses meeting with Dean and discussing how the discovery of a taping system would affect him. Eventually, Butterfield was forced to reveal the existence of listening devices to the Senate committee. Nixon, in Bethesda Hospital to treat his pneumonia, was suddenly faced with the decision of whether to quickly destroy the tapes -- which were about to be subpoenaed. The program ends with graphics detailing what happened to some major Watergate figures. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: Discovery Channel
  • DATE: August 8, 1994 Monday 10:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:45:58
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:45540
  • GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
  • SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Judith McHale)
  • SERIES RUN: Discovery Channel - TV, 1994
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Nancy LeBrun … Senior Producer
  • Anne Hubbell … Associate Producer
  • Andy Cottom … Associate Producer
  • Norma Percy … Series Producer
  • Mick Gold … Direction (Misc), Series Director
  • Paul Mitchell … Direction (Misc.), Series Director
  • Tim Souster … Music by
  • Daniel Schorr … Narrator
  • John Belushi
  • Alexander Butterfield
  • John Dean
  • John Ehrlichman
  • David Frost
  • H.R. Haldeman
  • Jim Hamilton
  • E. Howard Hunt
  • Jeb Magruder
  • James McCord
  • Richard M. Nixon
  • Charles Shaffer