On
the night of June 17, 1972, former employees of the Nixon reelection campaign
broke into the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate building. This
incident began the unraveling of the Nixon Administration's abuses of
power and illegal actions and the administration's efforts to cover up
these activities. Two days after the break-in, Herb Block drew cartoons
of Nixon and his attorney general feigning surprise, and saying, "Who
would think of doing such a thing?" This was followed by one of Nixon
and Department of Justice officials saying, "Remember, we don't talk
until we get a lawyer." He also did a cartoon showing scandal footsteps
leading to the White House. Says Herb Block: "Watergate was not
even the first by the Nixon plumbers.' They had previously broken
into the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist. And in the Nixon tapes,
he [Nixon] tells aides how to break into such places as the IRS offices."
In 1974, Herb Block produced Herblock Special Report, a book
of cartoons and text devoted to Nixon's political activities from the
1940s to his resignation in 1974.
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Taped
Long before the Watergate scandals, Herb Block was pointing out
excessive use of government power to wiretap or otherwise investigate
the activities of citizens an administration felt were at odds with
its policies. In 1970, the Civil Service Commission admitted to
having a Security Investigations Index with over 10 million entries,
and the armed forces revealed surveillance of Americans involved
in anti-Vietnam war activities.
Taped,
January 18, 1970
Ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on layered
paper
Published in the Washington Post (69)
LC-USZ62-126927
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New figure on the American scene
On June 13, 1971, the New York Times began publishing
installments of the "Pentagon Papers," documents about American
involvement in Indochina from the end of World War II to the mid
1960s. The Nixon administration moved to block further publication
of the papers, and Attorney General John Mitchell obtained a temporary
injunction against The New York Times. The Washington
Post then released two installments before being similarly
enjoined. Other papers picked up the series, until June 30, when
the Supreme Court rejected the government's request for a permanent
injunction. The "New Figure" cartoon was one of many depicting President
Richard Nixon's attempts to curb public information, partly through
government control of broadcast stations owned by newspapers.
New figure
on the American scene, June 20, 1971 Reproduction of
original drawing
Published in the Washington Post (71)
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For the championship of the United States
Campaign finance spending soared in the 1960s. The cost of the
1968 presidential campaign was $300 million — almost double that
of 1964. With Republican coffers in 1971 comfortably filled while
the Democrats were some $9 million in debt, the Democratic-controlled
Congress considered proposals to provide public financing. But President
Richard Nixon threatened a veto. Eventually, they compromised on
some public financing of presidential elections starting in 1976.
Since then, loopholes in the laws have permitted almost unlimited
political spending far in excess of the government's contributions
and of all previous campaigns. In the year 2000 campaign, more than
$300 million had already been spent on political ads alone before
the end of September.
For the championship
of the United States, November 17, 1971
Ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on layered
paper
Published in the Washington Post (72)
LC-USZ62-126926
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"Now, as I was saying four years ago–"
In his 1968 bid for the presidency, Richard Nixon announced to
the war-weary country that he had a secret plan to end the Vietnam
War. When he ran for re-election four years later, American troops
were still fighting in Indochina, with casualties continuing to
climb.
"Now, as I was
saying four years ago–", August 9, 1972
Ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on layered
paper
Published in the Washington Post (73)
LC-USZ62-126919
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"There's no need for an independent investigation–We have everything
well in hand"
As the 1972 presidential campaign progressed, reports surfaced
of violations of campaign regulations and laws. On August 26, the
General Accounting Office said that it had found irregularities
in reports by the Republican Committee to Re-elect the President
(known by the acronym CREEP). Democrats complained that an investigation
by the Justice Department and the White House were insufficient
and called for a special team to handle the matter.
"There's no
need for an independent investigation–We have everything well in
hand," September 8, 1972
Ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on layered
paper
Published in the Washington Post (74)
LC-USZ62-126916
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Nixon awash in his office
By June 1973, the country had become transfixed by the investigation
of Watergate via the televised hearings of the Senate Select Committee
on Presidential Campaign Activities. On June 25, former presidential
counsel John Dean began his testimony, the first before the committee
to directly accuse President Richard Nixon of involvement in the
coverup.
[Nixon awash
in his office], June 26, 1973
Ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on paper
Published in the Washington Post (76)
LC-USZ62-126918
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"Move over – We can't stay in a holding pattern forever"
Before the Watergate case, Herb Block had noted other Richard Nixon
scandals. These concerned reports of improper influence by ITT Corp.
on the location of the future Republican National Convention; Nixon's
fluctuating decisions on milk price supports that amounted to a
shakedown for campaign funds; and pressures on other businesses
to meet quota "suggestions" on contributions. There were disclosures
of taxpayer money spent to fix up Nixon's homes in Key Biscayne
and San Clemente. Nixon also took large backdated tax deductions
for the gift of his vice-presidential papers, which even included
newspaper clippings.
"Move over –
We can't stay in a holding pattern forever,"
July 29, 1973
Ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on paper
Published in the Washington Post (77)
LC-USZ62-126920
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Nixon, with sign, "I am not a crook"
On November 17, 1973, President Richard Nixon told 400 Associated
Press managing editors that he had not profited from public service.
"I have earned every cent. And in all of my years in public life
I have never obstructed justice. People have got to know whether
or not their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook," he declared.
On April 3, 1974, the White House announced that Nixon would pay
$432,787.13 in back taxes plus interest after an investigation by
the Internal Revenue Service and a congressional committee. Among
Nixon's benefits to himself were improvements in his properties,
supposedly necessary for his protection. These included a security
ice maker, a security swimming pool heater, security club chairs
and table lamps, security sofa and security pillows.
[Nixon, with
a money-bag for a face, carries a sign, "I am not a crook"],
April 4, 1974
Ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing on paper
Published in the Washington Post (78)
LC-USZ62-126921
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Nixon hanging between the tapes
Even more damning than President Richard Nixon's profiting from
public office were the disclosures of his corruption and attempts
at corruption of the government itself including the CIA, the FBI,
the Pentagon and even the Secret Service. A taping system that had
recorded most of President Nixon's conversations in the Oval Office
provided the "smoking gun" that spoke of crime and corruption. Nixon
refused to release the tapes until the Supreme Court ordered him
to do so.
[Nixon hanging
between the tapes], May 24, 1974 Reproduction of original
drawing
Published in the Washington Post (79)
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Nixon, "unindicted co-conspirator"
By July 14, 1974, President Richard Nixon stood almost alone. His
vice-president Spiro Agnew, pleaded nolo contendere to a
charge of tax evasion, and was forced to resign. Many of Nixon's
closest aides had been convicted of illegal activities. Nixon himself
was named an "un-indicted co-conspirator" by the Watergate grand
jury. A few days later, the House Judiciary Committee recommended
impeachment, and the Supreme Court required him to turn over all
subpoenaed tapes. When even his closest friends, reviewing these
tapes, agreed that the evidence against him was overwhelming, Nixon
bowed to the inevitable, resigning on August 9.
[Nixon, "unindicted
co-conspirator"], July 14, 1974 Reproduction of original
drawing
Published in the Washington Post (80)
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