Richard Nixon and his Secretary Rose Mary Woods in the White House on Vimeo
8 minutes of random video of Richard Nixon in the Oval with Secretary Rosemary Wood. Interesting look at the president in a way not often seen
Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace
Articles, resources and other materials
Richard Nixon - American President
Summary information and links to more resources from the Miller Center of Public Affairs from the University of Virginia
Watergate
Great resource site of articles and links to many aspects of the Watergate affair.
Revisiting Watergate
Review of Watergate affair by Washington Post 35 years later
The Watergate Decade: Illusion and Delusion
Short concise summary of watergate affair
Speech By Barbara Jordan on Impeachment July 25, 1974
This is the speech given by Representative Barbara Jordan (Democrat-Texas) reminding her colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee of the Constitutional basis for impeachment. ("A President Is Impeachable If He Attempts To Subvert The Constitution")
Nixon Tapes: Overview » White House Tapes
Overview and description of Nixon tapes from the Miller Center of Public Affairs
Nixon Presidential Library & Museum
Extensive collection of resources and exhibits
Woodward and Bernstein: 40 years after Watergate, Nixon was far worse than we thought - The Washington Post
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward reflect on Richard Nixon and Watergate in 2012. Beyond the obvious information and perspective this column offers, would students consider this a primary source or a secondary source?
The Most Dangerous Man in America in Context: The Ellsberg-Russo Trial | The Most Dangerous Man in America | POV | PBS
Would students believe that a sitting US President would contract private citizens to burglarize a psychiatrist's office than offer the Judge in their trial the job of Director of the FBI to make sure his role in the burglary never became public? Should this be taught?
Nixon's Enemies List, from Senate Watergate Committee
This memo was written by John Dean in August of 1971. It describes the manner in which the NIxon administration's "enemies" list can be weaponized to "screw our political enemies"; meaning, use the forces of the federal government against political opponents. Don't describe Watergate to students - just show them this memo and have them ask questions - this is perfectly accessible to students
Nixon's First Watergate Speech
Nixon's first televised speech, with video and transcript. The rhetorical devices can be shared with students - notice how he shifts subject at the end of the speech, notice how he calls the bombing of North Vietnam "his ordeal", notice how he tries to change conversation to dirty politics on all sides" - use this in its entirely - or cull out quotes for DBQ, or short doc analysis.
Watergate Articles Of Impeachment
This is the full text of the Articles of Impeachment adopted by House Judiciary Committee on July 27, 1974. Notice the first clause of Article 2, the use of the IRS against enemies.
The Living Room Candidate - Commercials - 1972 - McGovern Welfare
In this TV commercial for Richard Nixon's reelection in 1972, the narrator claims that George McGovern and the Democrats wanted to put more than 47% of the American population on welfare. Students could be shown this commercial and asked how much this sounds like something they would hear today. Was there anyway to fact check this information? After they agree that it was more difficult to fact check this information in 1972 - then how do we explain that it is not fact checked now, even though it could be?
I Am Not a Kook: Richard Nixon's Bizarre Visit to the Lincoln Memorial - The Atlantic
Short article for teachers describes Nixon's 4 am visit to the Lincoln Memorial in May of 1970 to debate student protesters. Tapes of him describing the conversation he had with them reveal serious contradictions with what the students remembered. This compels some to speak of Nixon's growing detachment from reality - at least that's what Heldeman wrote in his diary that night
The Sad, Stately Photo Of Nixon's Resignation Lunch : The Salt : NPR
Alexander Butterfield - Nixon; Untold Stories - 2007
It's tough to find a more candid, genuine and unadorned sharing of White House stories than this Alexander Butterfield presentation in 2007. Butterfield was the aide who worked very closely with Nixon in the White House and the source of the testimony that revealed the recording system. This could be used with students, though teachers would be most interested in this.
He Was a Crook: Hunter S. Thompson on Nixon - The Atlantic
Perhaps an energetic teacher could find some way to work this piece or some portion of it into a class or activity, but it is really for teachers when they have the time to immerse themselves in good writing and authentic, American political hatred. It has always had a place in our democracy, but here it is in pure, unadulterated form.
Here are handy excuses for Nixon Backers
Art Buchwald of the Washington Post wrote this column on July 12, 1973, satirizing the common responses of Nixon supporters to Watergate criticism. It surfaced with more popularity in July of 2017, when some noticed how the language here sounds so familiar. This provides another example of how history echoes and rhymes.
1972 Nixon Campaign Internal Memoranda
This 172 pdf document can be skimmed by students to get an idea of how the president's viewed the race against McGovern in 1972. Teachers can direct students to "Ctrl-F" through "abortion", "crime", "experience", "Cold War" (and others). The questions to explore touch upon how reflective this is of the political climate in the early 1970s. More importantly, were these issues important to people, or made important to people through these campaigns?
Nixon before resignation and full speech, August 8, 1974 - YouTube
Moments before he goes on-air to resign as President of the United States, Richard Nixon is calm and collected, joking with staff as they set up the pool feed. This is a 22 minute "raw", unedited video of the preparations for the speech. Teachers can show how the president of the United States prepares for a presentation - listen to him research sections of the speech.
White House: Richard M. Nixon
Brief biography from the White Hosue
Nixon Presidential Materials - Nixon Home Page
Character Above All: Richard M. Nixon Essay
Excerpt of article about Nixon by reporter Tom Wicker. Interesting insights into the Nixon personality
American Rhetoric: Richard M. Nixon - The Great Silent Majority
The Nixon-Presley Meeting
These materials chronicling the Presley-Nixon meeting were obtained from the Nixon Presidential Materials Project at the National Archives at College Park (College Park, Maryland)
Richard Nixon Interview with Don Swaim
The American Experience | Nixon's China Game
Companion site to accompany documentary, with articles, quotes, and interview with Kissinger.
CNN Cold War - Profile: Richard Milhous Nixon