American Experience (1988–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - Richard Nixon: Part II - full transcript

Narrator:
LESS THAN SIX MONTHS

AFTER HIS HUMILIATING DEFEAT
IN CALIFORNIA

NIXON APPEARED
ON THE JACK PARR SHOW

PLAYING A TUNE
HE HAD WRITTEN HIMSELF.

ALTHOUGH NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE
COULD HAVE KNOWN IT

THIS WAS THE BEGINNING
OF THE MOST REMARKABLE COMEBACKS

IN AMERICAN POLITICAL HISTORY.

CAN KENNEDY
BE DEFEATED IN '64?

WELL, WHICH ONE?

JUST TO BE VERY SERIOUS

I KNOW, OF COURSE
YOU'RE REFERRING TO
PRESIDENT KENNEDY



AND I, UNDER
NO CIRCUMSTANCES

WOULD SPEAK
DISRESPECTFULLY

EVEN OF HIM
OR OF HIS OFFICE.

WEREN'T YOU KIND OF
FRIENDS ONCE?

OH, CERTAINLY.

WE CAME TO THE
CONGRESS TOGETHER

AND WE WERE LOW MEN
ON THE TOTEM POLE

IN THE LABOR
COMMITTEE TOGETHER.

AND WE REMAINED LOW MEN

UNTIL HE RAN
FOR PRESIDENT.

NOW HE'S UP AND I'M DOWN.

MY LITTLE DAUGHTER
SAID TODAY

"MR. NIXON WILL BE ON?"

I SAID, "YES."



SHE SAID, "I DO HOPE
THAT MAN FINDS WORK."

Narrator:
NIXON FOUND WORK
AS A WALL STREET LAWYER

DETERMINED TO SUCCEED AT WHAT
HE CALLED "THE FAST TRACK."

PAT NIXON HAD NEVER BEEN HAPPY

WITH THE CONSTANT
DEMANDS OF POLITICS

AND WELCOMED THE PROSPECT
OF A MORE NORMAL EXISTENCE.

"I HOPE WE NEVER MOVE
AGAIN," SHE TOLD HIM

WHEN THEY SETTLED IN NEW YORK.

BUT POLITICS HAD BEEN
NIXON'S WHOLE LIFE

ALL HE HAD EVER KNOWN.

HE SOON TOLD FRIENDS
HE WOULD DIE OF BOREDOM

IF HE STAYED IN PRIVATE LIFE.

TV Announcer:
HERE IS A BULLETIN
FROM CBS NEWS.

IN DALLAS, TEXAS,
THREE SHOTS WERE FIRED

AT PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S
MOTORCADE...

Narrator:
TO SOME, IT SEEMED
THAT KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION

MIGHT OPEN THE WAY FOR NIXON
IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

BUT SENSING THE MOOD
OF THE COUNTRY

NIXON CONCLUDED THAT LYNDON
JOHNSON, THE NEW PRESIDENT

WOULD BE UNBEATABLE IN 1964.

Interviewer:
ARE YOU WRITING
YOURSELF OFF

AT THIS POINT,
AS A POLITICAL
CANDIDATE

AS A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE
AT ANY TIME?

WELL, I'VE MADE IT CLEAR

THAT I AM NOT A CANDIDATE
FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

I SHALL NOT BECOME A CANDIDATE
IN THIS YEAR, 1964

AND I CERTAINLY HAVE NO PLANS

TO BECOME A CANDIDATE
IN THE FUTURE.

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR
AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER

I AM NOT WRITING MYSELF OFF

AS A POLITICAL LEADER
IN THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator:
AS NIXON EXPECTED,
PRESIDENT JOHNSON OVERWHELMED

REPUBLICAN BARRY GOLDWATER
IN 1964

AND THE PARTY LOST
DISASTROUSLY IN CONGRESS.

BUT IN THE RUINS OF THAT DEFEAT

NIXON SAW HIS WAY BACK TO POWER.

HE WORKED THE REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSIONAL CIRCUIT TIRELESSLY

TRAVELED TO 35 STATES,
BARNSTORMED FOR 105 CANDIDATES.

AND WHEN THE PARTY MADE
A DRAMATIC COMEBACK IN 1966

THERE WAS HARDLY A REPUBLICAN
WHO DIDN'T OWE NIXON A FAVOR.

Man:
HE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE

WITH ALL OF THE OBLIGATORY
ACTIVITIES OF POLITICS.

THOSE WERE THE DUES ONE PAID

IN ORDER TO GAIN ADMISSION
TO THE ARENA, AND HE PAID THEM.

HE FLINCHED, ON OCCASION,
BUT HE PAID THEM.

HE LEARNED TO DO
WHAT HE HAD TO DO.

Nixon:
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Man:
GOOD TO SEE YOU!

GET THIS BOY IN!

WE'RE GOING TO!

YOU GET HIM IN NOW!

Narrator:
NIXON PROMISED HIS FAMILY
A MORATORIUM ON POLITICS IN 1967

BUT IMMEDIATELY TOOK OFF

ON A GRUELING TOUR
OF FOUR CONTINENTS.

TRAVELING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN

THE FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT
COULD STILL COMMAND A CROWD

IN THE MOST REMOTE REACHES
OF THE GLOBE.

HIS TRIPS KEPT HIM IN THE NEWS

AND STRENGTHENED HIS GRASP
OF FOREIGN POLICY.

ONCE AGAIN, RICHARD NIXON
WAS AIMING FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

HE HAD THIS ABSOLUTELY CORE FIRE

THAT HE WANTED TO BE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

I THINK FOR SEVERAL REASONS...

PROBABLY TO PROVE A LOT
OF THINGS TO HIMSELF

BUT ALSO BECAUSE
HE SINCERELY WANTED

TO TAKE THE COUNTRY
IN A DIRECTION

THAT HE FELT WAS
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Man:
OKAY!

Narrator:
AS NIXON OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED
HIS CANDIDACY IN FEBRUARY, 1968

THE EVENTS OF
THAT TUMULTUOUS YEAR

MOVED HIM CLOSER TO THE OFFICE
HE HAD SOUGHT FOR SO LONG.

IN VIETNAM, COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS
FOUGHT THEIR WAY

TO THE VERY DOORSTEP OF
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN SAIGON.

NEVER HAD THE PROSPECTS
FOR VICTORY LOOKED MORE BLEAK.

AT HOME, ANGER OVER THE WAR
TORE THE COUNTRY APART

AND FORCED LYNDON JOHNSON
TO WITHDRAW

FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

ROBERT KENNEDY WAS
JUST BEGINNING TO EMERGE

AS THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT-RUNNER

WHEN HE WAS KILLED
BY AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET.

RACE RIOTS FOLLOWING THE MURDER
OF MARTIN LUTHER KING

TURNED MANY CITIES
INTO BATTLEGROUNDS.

THE COUNTRY HAD NOT SUFFERED
SUCH UPHEAVAL

SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

MANY AMERICANS
YEARNED FOR A LEADER

WHO PROMISED SAFETY
AND STABILITY.

IN MIAMI BEACH

SAFE FROM THE CRISES
THAT ENGULFED THE COUNTRY

THE NIXON FAMILY WATCHED

AS REPUBLICANS CHOSE
THEIR CANDIDATE.

Delegate:
for Richard M. Nixon.

THERE... WE WORKED FOR THOSE!

Delegate:
Wisconsin is proud
to cast its 30 votes

for the nominee
of this convention

Richard M. Nixon...

Nixon:
SIT DOWN,
GET TO WORK!

Narrator:
AS HE ACCEPTED
THE NOMINATION OF HIS PARTY

NIXON OFFERED HIMSELF
AS THE MAN WHO COULD BRING ORDER

OUT OF THE TURMOIL OF 1968.

WHEN THE STRONGEST NATION
IN THE WORLD

CAN BE TIED DOWN FOR FOUR YEARS
IN A WAR IN VIETNAM

WITH NO END IN SIGHT

WHEN THE NATION WITH
THE GREATEST TRADITION

OF THE RULE OF LAW IS PLAGUED

BY UNPRECEDENTED LAWLESSNESS

WHEN A NATION THAT HAS
BEEN KNOWN FOR A CENTURY

FOR EQUALITY OF
OPPORTUNITY IS TORN

BY UNPRECEDENTED RACIAL VIOLENCE

THEN IT'S TIME
FOR NEW LEADERSHIP

FOR THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA!

Narrator:
REPUBLICANS ONCE AGAIN PINNED
THEIR PRESIDENTIAL HOPES

ON RICHARD NIXON.

TO THEM, AND TO MANY
IN THE PRESS

HE SEEMED A NEW NIXON

BETTER PREPARED THAN
THE MAN WHO HAD LOST IN 1960.

BUT THE DEMOCRATIC
FRONT-RUNNER HUBERT HUMPHREY

SAID HE'D SEEN IT ALL BEFORE.

HE STARTED
THAT RENEWAL JOB IN 1952...

BRAND NEW NIXON.

THERE WAS SOME REASON
FOR IT, TOO.

THEN THEY HAD ANOTHER
RENEWAL JOB IN 1956.

THEN THEY HAD ANOTHER RENOVATION
OPERATION IN 1960.

THEN, WHEN HE WENT
TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR

IN CALIFORNIA IN 1962,
THEY RENEWED HIM AGAIN.

AND THEN IN 1964,
ANOTHER TOUCH-UP.

AND NOW, I READ ABOUT
THE NEW NIXON OF 1968.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

ANYBODY THAT'S HAD HIS POLITICAL
FACE LIFTED SO MANY TIMES

CAN'T BE VERY NEW.

Narrator:
BOATING IN THE FLORIDA KEYS,
NIXON WAS RELAXED AND CONFIDENT.

HE WAS RUNNING FAR AHEAD
OF HUMPHREY IN THE POLLS

AND THE VIETNAM WAR WAS
SPLINTERING THE DEMOCRATS.

Crowd:
WE WANT PEACE NOW!
WE WANT PEACE NOW!

Narrator:
AT THEIR CONVENTION IN CHICAGO,
THE ANTI-WAR WING OF THE PARTY

PRESSED FOR AN END
TO THE BOMBING

AND A NEGOTIATED WITHDRAWAL
OF U.S. TROOPS.

BUT HUMPHREY STUCK BY
PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S POLICY.

AND I THINK THAT WITHDRAWAL
WOULD BE TOTALLY UNREALISTIC

AND WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE.

Narrator:
AS THE DEMOCRATS
FOUGHT OVER VIETNAM

NIXON AVOIDED THE ISSUE

PROMISING ONLY
THAT HE WOULD FIND

AN HONORABLE END TO THE WAR.

ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

HE WATCHED ON TELEVISION

AS ANTI-WAR PROTESTS
OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION HALL

EXPLODED INTO VIOLENCE.

IN THE CHAOS,
NIXON SAW AN OPPORTUNITY.

A FEW DAYS LATER

HE MOVED THROUGH
THE SAME STREETS IN A MOTORCADE.

400,000 PEOPLE
TURNED OUT TO CHEER HIM.

HE CHOSE THE CITY WHICH HAD SEEN
OPEN WAR AMONG THE DEMOCRATS

TO SOUND ONE OF THE CENTRAL
THEMES OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

THIS IS A NATION OF LAWS,
AND AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAS SAID

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW,
NO ONE IS BELOW THE LAW

AND WE'RE GOING
TO ENFORCE THE LAW

AND AMERICANS
SHOULD REMEMBER THAT

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
LAW AND ORDER.

Narrator:
THE EMPHASIS ON LAW AND ORDER

APPEALED TO MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS.

NIXON'S TELEVISION COMMERCIALS
HAMMERED IT HOME.

Nixon:
IN RECENT YEARS, CRIME
IN THIS COUNTRY HAS GROWN

NINE TIMES AS FAST
AS POPULATION.

AT THE CURRENT RATE

THE CRIMES OF VIOLENCE
IN AMERICA WILL DOUBLE BY 1972.

WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT KIND
OF FUTURE FOR AMERICA.

WE OWE IT TO THE DECENT AND
LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS OF AMERICA

TO TAKE THE OFFENSIVE

AGAINST THE CRIMINAL FORCES
THAT THREATEN

THEIR PEACE AND THEIR SECURITY

AND TO REBUILD RESPECT
FOR LAW ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

Narrator:
TO THE DEMOCRATS,
NIXON'S CALL FOR LAW AND ORDER

PLAYED TO THE WORST
IN AMERICANS.

BUT YOU CAN'T VOTE YOUR ANGER,
YOU HAVE TO VOTE YOUR HOPES.

YOU CAN'T VOTE YOUR HATES,
YOU HAVE TO VOTE YOUR HOPES.

THE PREAMBLE OF THE CONSTITUTION
DOESN'T JUST SAY

"DOUBLE THE RATE
OF CONVICTIONS."

IT DOESN'T JUST SAY,
"LAW AND ORDER."

IT SAYS, "TO ENSURE JUSTICE."

AND IF MR. NIXON HASN'T READ IT,
THEN I'LL SEND HIM A COPY.

Narrator:
BUT NIXON HAD A FEEL
FOR THE ISSUES

THAT MOVED THE MIDDLE
AMERICAN VOTER.

THEY WERE THE SAME ISSUES
THAT MOVED HIM.

BLAMING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
FOR THE UPHEAVAL IN THE COUNTRY

HE SOUGHT TO RALLY
A NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

THE NEW VOICE THAT IS BEING
HEARD ACROSS AMERICA TODAY...

IT IS NOT THE VOICE
OF A SINGLE PERSON.

IT'S THE VOICE OF
A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS

WHO HAVE NOT BEEN THE PROTESTORS

WHO HAVE NOT BEEN THE SHOUTERS.

THE GREAT MAJORITY
FINALLY HAVE BECOME ANGRY

NOT ANGRY WITH HATE,

BUT ANGRY, MY FRIENDS
BECAUSE THEY LOVE AMERICA

AND THEY DON'T LIKE
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING

TO AMERICA
FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

YOU'VE JUST HEARD
RICHARD NIXON
REFER TO YOU

AMONG ALL THESE
OTHER PEOPLE

AS "THE FORGOTTEN
AMERICANS."

WHAT DO YOU THINK
HE'S REFERRING TO?

WELL, I SORT OF THINK
HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE

THAT ARE PAYING THE TAXES

THAT ARE SUPPORTING
THE SCHOOLS, THE CHURCHES

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE...
THEY ARE SORT OF FORGOTTEN

BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S AIMED
AT WELFARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
NIXON'S CALL TO
THE FORGOTTEN AMERICANS

APPEALED TO A BROAD
BAND OF VOTERS...

MOSTLY WHITE, MIDDLE CLASS,
HAWKISH, PATRIOTIC.

IT WAS A GROUP THAT FELT
IGNORED AND EXCLUDED

IN THE UPHEAVALS OF THE '60s

AND THE STRATEGY
SEEMED TO BE WORKING.

NIXON HELD HIS STRONG LEAD
INTO THE FALL.

THEN, JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION

PRESIDENT JOHNSON
SUDDENLY STOPPED

THE BOMBING OF NORTH VIETNAM.

HUMPHREY SURGED IN THE POLLS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
THE BIGGEST ELECTION SURPRISE

THAT AMERICA HAS KNOWN
IN 20 YEARS.

WE'RE GOING TO WIN
THIS ELECTION!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Narrator:
BY ELECTION NIGHT, NIXON
AND HUMPHREY WERE DEAD EVEN.

NIXON PREPARED HIS FAMILY

FOR THE POSSIBILITY
OF STILL ANOTHER DEFEAT.

Nixon has closed a little bit

in the last few
tabulations there.

Man:
I THINK BEFORE
THE MORNING IS OUT

HUBERT HUMPHREY WILL BE

THE NEXT PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

And there have been no changes.

None of those big states
have fallen yet

the ones we are waiting for

and Nixon has 175...

Narrator:
ALL NIGHT LONG, THE LEAD
SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH.

THE RESULTS WEREN'T ANNOUNCED
UNTIL 8:00 THE NEXT MORNING.

With 26 electoral votes
in Illinois

Richard Nixon goes over the top
with 287 electoral votes.

He needed 270 to win

and that seems to be
the 1968 election.

Announcer:
AND HE IS BEAMING,
PAT NIXON IS BEAMING.

ONE CAN'T HELP
BUT THINK BACK TO 1960

WHEN A TEARFUL PAT NIXON
WAS CHOKING BACK THE EMOTIONS.

IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT
SCENE, OF COURSE, THEN.

HERE IS POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST
FANTASTIC POLITICAL COMEBACKS

IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

I SAW MANY SIGNS
IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

SOME OF THEM WERE NOT FRIENDLY,
SOME WERE VERY FRIENDLY

BUT THE ONE THAT
TOUCHED ME THE MOST

WAS ONE THAT I SAW
IN DEXTER, OHIO

AT THE END OF A LONG DAY
OF WHISTLE-STOPPING.

A TEENAGER HELD UP A SIGN

"BRING US TOGETHER"

AND THAT WILL BE
THE GREAT OBJECTIVE

OF THIS ADMINISTRATION
AT THE OUTSET

TO BRING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TOGETHER.

Narrator:
NIXON SPOKE OF UNITY

BUT HIS MARGIN OF VICTORY
HAD BEEN EXTREMELY NARROW.

HE HAD NOT REACHED OUT TO BLACKS

OR THE POOR,
OR OPPONENTS OF THE WAR

AND A NATION AS BADLY DIVIDED
AS AMERICA IN 1968

WOULD NOT BE EASY TO LEAD.

Chorus:
♪ AMERICA ♪

♪ AMERICA... ♪

Narrator:
AT AGE 56, AFTER 22 YEARS
OF POLITICAL BATTLE

RICHARD NIXON HAD BECOME THE
MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD.

HE ENVISIONED NOTHING LESS
THAN A NEW WORLD ORDER

WITH HIMSELF AS ITS ARCHITECT.

THE GREATEST HONOR
HISTORY CAN BESTOW

IS THE TITLE OF PEACEMAKER.

THIS HONOR NOW BECKONS AMERICA.

IF WE SUCCEED

GENERATIONS TO COME

WILL SAY OF US NOW LIVING
THAT WE MASTERED OUR MOMENT

THAT WE HELPED MAKE
THE WORLD SAFE FOR MANKIND.

THIS IS OUR SUMMONS
TO GREATNESS.

Man:
THERE'S NO QUESTION AT ALL THAT
NIXON ASPIRED TO GREATNESS.

HE WOULD TALK CONSTANTLY

ABOUT THE GENERATION OF PEACE

THAT HE HOPED TO CONTRIBUTE
TO BUILDING

THAT WOULD INDEED BE
HIS BEQUEST

TO THE UNITED STATES
AND THE WORLD.

Narrator:
AS NIXON TOOK POWER,
HE ASSEMBLED A STAFF

THAT WOULD LEAVE HIM FREE
TO CARRY OUT HIS AMBITIOUS PLANS

AND WHOSE LOYALTY
HAD ALREADY BEEN DEMONSTRATED.

THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF,
AS IT EVOLVES,

I THINK YOU'LL FIND

WILL BE SMALLER THAN
IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST...

Narrator:
H.R. HALDEMAN, A FORMER
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

WHO HAD BEEN AT NIXON'S SIDE
SINCE 1956

WAS MADE CHIEF OF STAFF.

"HE WAS PROUD," HE ONCE SAID

"TO BE RICHARD NIXON'S
SON OF A BITCH."

JOHN EHRLICHMAN, A LAWYER AND
TOP AIDE DURING THE CAMPAIGN

WOULD HANDLE MUCH
OF DOMESTIC POLICY.

TOGETHER, HE AND HALDEMAN
WOULD TIGHTLY CONTROL ACCESS

TO THE PRESIDENT.

THOSE WHOM THEY EXCLUDED
CALLED THEM "THE BERLIN WALL."

BEHIND THAT WALL

NIXON COULD FOCUS
ON HIS MAIN INTEREST...

FOREIGN POLICY,
BYPASSING THE STATE DEPARTMENT

TO WORK CLOSELY WITH HIS
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

HENRY KISSINGER.

DR. KISSINGER IS PERHAPS
ONE OF THE MAJOR SCHOLARS

IN AMERICA AND
THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS AREA.

HE HAS NEVER YET HAD A FULL-TIME
GOVERNMENT ASSIGNMENT

AND HE WILL BRING
TO THIS RESPONSIBILITY
A FRESH APPROACH...

Man:
THEY ORGANIZED THE GOVERNMENT
TO CONCENTRATE POWER

IN THE HANDS OF THESE TWO MEN
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND IT'S NOT ACCIDENTAL
THAT HE APPOINTS AN OLD FRIEND

BUT A DECIDEDLY WEAK
PRACTITIONER IN BILL ROGERS

IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

OR ESSENTIALLY A WISCONSIN DELLS
POLITICIAN, MELVIN LAIRD

AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE...

THERE ARE NO STRONG FIGURES
IN THIS CABINET

AND THERE ARE NO STRONG
FOREIGN POLICY FIGURES

ANYWHERE IN THE HIGHER
ECHELONS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT IS TO BE RICHARD NIXON'S
FOREIGN POLICY

AND IT IS TO BE CARRIED OUT

WITH SOPHISTICATION AND SOME
SUBTLETY BY HENRY KISSINGER.

Narrator:
LOOMING OVER
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION

WAS THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

AMERICAN TROOPS HAD BEEN
FIGHTING FOR FOUR YEARS

ON BEHALF OF SOUTH VIETNAM

AGAINST THE SOVIET-BACKED
COMMUNIST FORCES OF THE NORTH.

THE WAR HAD ALREADY TAKEN
THE LIVES OF 30,000 AMERICANS

AND OVER A MILLION VIETNAMESE,
AND DESTROYED ONE PRESIDENT.

NIXON WAS DETERMINED
NOT TO LET IT DESTROY HIM.

EVEN BEFORE HIS INAUGURATION

NIXON HAD KISSINGER
BEGIN SECRET CONTACTS

WITH THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
IN AN ATTEMPT

TO MOVE THE STALLED
PARIS PEACE TALKS FORWARD

AND SOON, THE TWO MEN
DEVELOPED A STRATEGY

THEY HOPED WOULD GET
THE U.S. OUT OF THE WAR

WITHOUT ABANDONING
AMERICA'S ALLY, SOUTH VIETNAM.

Nixon:
WE HAVE ADOPTED A PLAN

WHICH WE HAVE WORKED OUT

IN COOPERATION
WITH THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE

FOR THE COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL
OF ALL U.S. COMBAT GROUND FORCES

AND THEIR REPLACEMENT
BY SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES

ON AN ORDERLY,
SCHEDULED TIMETABLE.

THIS WITHDRAWAL
WILL BE MADE FROM STRENGTH...

Narrator:
CONFIDENT THAT THIS POLICY

WOULD END AMERICA'S INVOLVEMENT
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

BY THE END OF 1970

NIXON AND KISSINGER TURNED THEIR
ATTENTION TO GLOBAL STRATEGY

RESHAPING AMERICA'S
ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE COMMUNIST WORLD.

THEY BOTH BEGAN IN 1969-1970
WITH A NOTION

THAT ONLY LATELY HAS BECOME
FASHIONABLE IN WASHINGTON

AND THAT IS THAT
THE POST-WAR IS REALLY OVER

THAT THE COLD WAR OUGHT TO BE
A THING OF THE PAST.

THEY ARE, IN THAT SENSE, ALMOST
20 YEARS AHEAD OF THEIR TIME.

Narrator:
RECOGNIZING THAT
THE SOVIET UNION

HAD NEARLY CAUGHT UP TO THE U.S.
IN NUCLEAR STRENGTH

NIXON AND KISSINGER DISPATCHED
A TEAM OF NEGOTIATORS

TO WORK OUT A TREATY
WITH THE SOVIETS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
THE HISTORY OF THE NUCLEAR AGE

THE TWO SUPERPOWERS SAT DOWN

TO DISCUSS SETTING LIMITS
ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY BEGAN SECRET CONTACTS

WITH THE OTHER GREAT
COMMUNIST POWER, CHINA.

THERE WERE FEW MORE FORBIDDING

AND ISOLATED PLACES
IN THE WORLD IN 1969

BUT NIXON BELIEVED THAT CHINA,
WITH ITS VAST POPULATION

AND GROWING NUCLEAR ARSENAL

WOULD SOON BE
TOO POWERFUL TO IGNORE.

Morris:
HERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN THE 20th CENTURY

WE HAVE TWO MEN AT THE VERY
PINNACLE OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

WHO HAVE SOME CLEAR NOTION

NOT ONLY OF WHAT THE WORLD
IS DOING OUT THERE

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD

BUT OF WHERE THEY WANT
THE UNITED STATES TO FIT IN.

WE ARE NOT A NATION
THAT PRACTICES

ITS FOREIGN POLICY BY DESIGN,
FOR THE MOST PART

AND NIXON AND KISSINGER ARE
AN EXCEPTION TO THAT RULE.

Narrator:
IN THE SUMMER OF 1969,
NIXON ANNOUNCED

THE FIRST AMERICAN TROOP
WITHDRAWALS FROM VIETNAM.

ARMS CONTROL, CHINA,
SOUTHEAST ASIA...

HE SEEMED TO BE MOVING STEADILY
TOWARD BECOMING A PEACEMAKER.

Man:
TEN, HUT!

Narrator:
RICHARD NIXON LOVED
THE MOVIE PATTON

AND WATCHED IT AGAIN AND AGAIN
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

GENERAL GEORGE PATTON
WAS A MAN OF ACTION

CONTEMPTUOUS OF HIS CRITICS,
UNCOMPROMISING

DETERMINED TO WIN AT ALL COSTS.

BE SEATED.

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER...

AMERICANS LOVE A WINNER

AND WILL NOT TOLERATE A LOSER.

AMERICANS PLAY TO WIN
ALL THE TIME.

I WOULDN'T GIVE A HOOT IN HELL
FOR A MAN WHO LOST AND LAUGHED.

THAT'S WHY AMERICANS
HAVE NEVER LOST

AND WILL NEVER LOSE A WAR

BECAUSE THE VERY THOUGHT OF
LOSING IS HATEFUL TO AMERICANS.

Narrator:
RICHARD NIXON WAS DETERMINED

NOT TO BE THE FIRST AMERICAN
PRESIDENT TO LOSE A WAR.

HE MIGHT SIMPLY HAVE BROUGHT
THE TROOPS HOME

AND BLAMED VIETNAM
ON THE DEMOCRATS

BUT NIXON, LIKE MANY OF HIS
CONTEMPORARIES IN BOTH PARTIES

BELIEVED THAT ABANDONING
SOUTH VIETNAM TO THE COMMUNISTS

WOULD BE A DEFEAT THAT
INVITED FURTHER AGGRESSION...

A SIGN THAT AMERICA
COULD NO LONGER BE COUNTED ON

BY HER ALLIES.

DESPITE MOUNTING PRESSURE
FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL

HE STUCK TO HIS GRADUAL COURSE

WHILE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE
WHAT HE CALLED

"AN HONORABLE END TO THE WAR."

BUT THE MONTHS DRAGGED ON.

CASUALTIES MOUNTED

AND NIXON'S POLICY SEEMED
ONLY TO PROLONG AMERICA'S AGONY.

I SAID, "WITH RESPECT
TO VIETNAM...

I SAID,
"THE WAR IN VIETNAM IS LOST

AND THE SOONER YOU GET OUT,
THE BETTER WE WILL BE."

IT WAS LOST, BUT HE,
FOR SOME REASON, KEPT AT IT.

IT WASN'T HIS WAR

AND IT SEEMED TO ME THAT
JUST IN HANDLING A PRESIDENCY

YOU STICK AROUND WITH
THE WAR FOR TWO YEARS

AND IT'S YOUR WAR,
AND IT BECAME HIS WAR.

AND IN THE END

HALF THE COUNTRY SEEMED
TO THINK HE STARTED IT.

Crowd:
♪ ALL WE ARE SAYING ♪

♪ IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE... ♪

Narrator:
IN OCTOBER 1969

THE LARGEST ANTI-WAR
DEMONSTRATIONS

IN THE NATION'S HISTORY

COLLECTIVELY KNOWN
AS "THE MORATORIUM"

WERE HELD IN CITIES
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

CRITICS OF THE WAR
HAD WAITED NINE MONTHS

FOR NIXON TO MAKE GOOD
HIS PLEDGE TO END THE CONFLICT

BUT NOW THE HONEYMOON WAS OVER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN
AND CONTINUES TO BE

OPPOSITION TO THE WAR IN VIETNAM

ON THE CAMPUSES
AND ALSO IN THE NATION.

AS FAR AS THIS KIND
OF ACTIVITY IS CONCERNED

WE EXPECT IT, HOWEVER,
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES

WILL I BE AFFECTED
WHATEVER BY IT.

THE MORATORIUM ITSELF
WAS SEEN BY RICHARD NIXON

AS 200,000 PEOPLE
OUT THERE ON THE MALL

PROTESTING HIS FOREIGN POLICY

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
THE POLLS WERE SHOWING

THAT 58%-59% OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE SUPPORTED HIM

IN HIS FOREIGN POLICY.

AND HE WOULD LOOK OUT
THE WINDOW AND HE WOULD SAY

"I SIMPLY CANNOT PERMIT
FOREIGN POLICY TO BE MADE

IN THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON."

Man:
THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES SAID

NOTHING YOU YOUNG KIDS WOULD DO
WOULD HAVE ANY EFFECT ON HIM.

WELL, I SUGGEST TO THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

IF HE WANT TO KNOW
HOW MUCH EFFECT

YOU YOUNGSTERS CAN HAVE
ON THE PRESIDENT

HE SHOULD MAKE ONE
LONG-DISTANCE PHONE CALL

TO THE L.B.J. RANCH

AND ASK THAT BOY
HOW MUCH EFFECT YOU CAN HAVE.

Crowd:
1-2-3-4, TRICKY DICK
STOP THE WAR.

Narrator:
THE FATE OF LYNDON JOHNSON
DID HAUNT RICHARD NIXON.

HE FELT HE HAD TO DEMONSTRATE

THAT MOST AMERICANS
STILL SUPPORTED HIM

AND THAT IT WOULD
NOT BENEFIT HANOI

TO STALL PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

"DON'T GET RATTLED,
DON'T WAVER, DON'T REACT"

HE TOLD HIMSELF
AS HE WENT TO WORK ON A SPEECH

TO RESPOND TO THE PROTESTS.

INSISTING ON WRITING IT HIMSELF

HE DISTINGUISHED HIS SUPPORTERS,
THE "FORGOTTEN AMERICANS"

FROM THE VOCAL MINORITY
IN THE STREETS

WITH A NEW CATCHPHRASE:

TO YOU, THE GREAT SILENT
MAJORITY OF MY FELLOW AMERICANS

I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

FOR THE MORE DIVIDED
WE ARE AT HOME

THE LESS LIKELY THE ENEMY
IS TO NEGOTIATE AT PARIS.

LET US BE UNITED FOR PEACE.

LET US ALSO BE UNITED
AGAINST DEFEAT.

BECAUSE LET US UNDERSTAND:

NORTH VIETNAM CANNOT DEFEAT
OR HUMILIATE THE UNITED STATES.

ONLY AMERICANS CAN DO THAT.

Narrator:
IT WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE SPEECH
OF NIXON'S PRESIDENCY.

80,000 TELEGRAMS AND LETTERS
ARRIVED AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

NEARLY ALL SUPPORTED HIM.

HIS APPROVAL RATING SOARED.

BUT THE WAR CONTINUED,
AND WITH IT THE PROTESTS.

Morris:
RICHARD NIXON CAME
TO OFFICE EXPECTING

IF NOT A QUICK FIX IN VIETNAM

EXPECTING A KIND OF
RESPONSIVENESS IN THE WAR.

HE HAD MADE CERTAIN SPEECHES.

HE HAD OFFERED CERTAIN GESTURES.

HE HAD PROFFERED
BOTH SECRETLY AND PUBLICLY

WHAT HE THOUGHT WERE PROMISING
INITIATIVES IN NEGOTIATIONS.

NONE OF THAT
HAD YIELDED ANYTHING.

THERE WAS A PALPABLE
SENSE OF FRUSTRATION

IN THE ADMINISTRATION

ABOUT HOW LONG THIS WAR
WAS GOING TO DRAG ON.

OUT OF THE OVAL OFFICE
BEGAN TO FLOOD MEMORANDA

THAT WERE STREAM-
OF-CONSCIOUSNESS

RENDITIONS OF THE PRESIDENT'S

FEARS AND AMBITIONS
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA...

HIS IMAGE OF THIS WHOLE CONTEST

AS A KIND OF CHALLENGE
BEING ISSUED

NOT ONLY BY THE PARTIES
ON THE GROUND

BY THE CAMBODIAN REBELS,

THE NORTH VIETNAMESE,
AND THE VIET CONG

BUT ULTIMATELY BY MORE
FORMIDABLE AND DISTANT FORCES

THE SOVIET UNION, BY CHINA,
BY HIS ENEMIES TESTING HIM

MEASURING HIS METTLE
AS A MAN AND AS A LEADER.

Ehrlichman:
HE TOOK ME ASIDE AND HE SAID

"I'M GOING TO BE
OUT OF THE PLAY FOR TEN DAYS.

"I WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE

"ANY DOMESTIC DECISIONS
FOR TEN DAYS

"SO COME BACK THIS AFTERNOON
AND TELL ME ALL THE THINGS

"THAT NEED TO BE DECIDED
FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS

"AND THEN I WON'T BE ABLE
TO SEE YOU

"BECAUSE I'LL BE FOCUSING
ON THIS BUSINESS IN VIETNAM.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY
AND BRING IT TO A HEAD."

Narrator:
AT THE PENTAGON,
DEFENSE SECRETARY LAIRD

WAITED FOR THE PRESIDENT.

AFTER DAYS OF TENSE DELIBERATION

NIXON WAS ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE
AN ATTACK ON ENEMY SANCTUARIES

ACROSS THE VIETNAM
BORDER IN CAMBODIA

AND THE WOULD DO SO
OVER THE OBJECTIONS

OF MANY WHITE HOUSE ADVISORS.

Morris:
WE THOUGHT THE INVASION
WAS A BAD IDEA

AND THAT IT WAS ONE MORE
ROUND OF ESCALATION

ON THE PATTERN...
ON AN OLD PATTERN IN VIETNAM

WHICH WOULD COST LIVES
AND NATIONAL TREASURE

AND REALLY ONLY PROLONG
THE SUFFERING

AND DO NOTHING TO AFFECT
THE LARGER OUTCOME OF THE WAR.

Narrator:
BUT THE MILITARY AND KISSINGER
RECOMMENDED THE ACTION

AND NIXON WANTED TO GO AHEAD.

HE WAS CONVINCED THAT DESTROYING

THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
HIDING PLACES IN CAMBODIA

WOULD RELIEVE COMMUNIST
PRESSURE ON THE SOUTH

AND HE WANTED TO TAKE SOME
DRAMATIC ACTION TO DEMONSTRATE

THAT NEITHER HANOI
NOR THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

COULD INTIMIDATE THE UNITED
STATES OR ITS PRESIDENT.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ACTS LIKE A PITIFUL,
HELPLESS GIANT

THE FORCES OF TOTALITARIANISM
AND ANARCHY

WILL THREATEN FREE NATIONS
AND FREE INSTITUTIONS

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

IT IS NOT OUR POWER
BUT OUR WILL AND CHARACTER

THAT IS BEING TESTED TONIGHT.

Narrator:
AS NIXON SPOKE, AMERICAN
TROOPS MOVED INTO CAMBODIA.

HIS CRITICS WERE OUTRAGED.

THE PRESIDENT WHO HAD PROMISED
TO END THE WAR

SEEMED TO BE WIDENING IT

MOVING INTO A COUNTRY
PERCEIVED AS NEUTRAL.

THREE MEMBERS OF KISSINGER'S
STAFF, INCLUDING ROGER MORRIS

RESIGNED IN PROTEST.

NIXON WAS UNMOVED.

Nixon:
I WOULD RATHER BE

A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT
AND DO WHAT I BELIEVE WAS RIGHT

THAN TO BE A TWO-TERM PRESIDENT

AT THE COST OF SEEING AMERICA
BECOME A SECOND-RATE POWER

AND TO SEE THIS NATION
ACCEPT THE FIRST DEFEAT

IN ITS PROUD 190-YEAR HISTORY.

Narrator:
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING

NIXON WENT TO THE PENTAGON
FOR A FIRSTHAND BRIEFING.

THE MILITARY WAS
REPORTING SUCCESS.

NIXON WAS ENCOURAGED,
AND PRAISED AMERICAN SOLDIERS

FIGHTING IN THE JUNGLES
OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.

THE WIFE OF ONE OF THOSE
SOLDIERS

REACHED OUT TO SHAKE HIS HAND.

NIXON DREW A SHARP CONTRAST
BETWEEN THE TROOPS IN VIETNAM

AND THE STUDENT PROTESTERS
AT HOME.

Nixon:
YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THESE BUMS,

YOU KNOW, BLOWING UP THE
CAMPUSES.

LISTEN, THE BOYS THAT ARE
ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES TODAY

ARE THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD

AND HERE THEY ARE,
BURNING UP THE BOOKS

I MEAN, STORMING AROUND ABOUT
THIS ISSUE...

I MEAN, YOU NAME IT.

GET RID OF THE WAR,
THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE...

Narrator:
NIXON'S REMARKS FURTHER
INFURIATED STUDENTS

ALREADY PROTESTING
OVER CAMBODIA.

AFTER THREE TENSE DAYS
OF DEMONSTRATIONS

AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY IN OHIO

NERVOUS NATIONAL GUARDSMEN
OPENED FIRE.

FOUR STUDENTS WERE KILLED.

"MY CHILD WAS NOT A BUM," SAID
THE FATHER OF ONE DEAD GIRL.

AMERICAN CAMPUSES EXPLODED.

HUNDREDS OF COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES CLOSED DOWN.

GOVERNORS IN 16 STATES
CALLED OUT THE POLICE

AND NATIONAL GUARD.

NIXON'S SUPPORTERS TOOK
TO THE STREETS AS WELL.

AT NEW YORK'S CITY HALL,
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS STRUGGLED

TO RAISE THE FLAG
WHICH THE MAYOR HAD LOWERED

TO HONOR THE DEAD AT KENT STATE.

NIXON'S MOVE INTO CAMBODIA
AND HIS DIVIDING OF AMERICANS

INTO "BUMS" AND "HEROES" HAD SET
OFF A NATIONAL FIRESTORM.

Crowd:
STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

Narrator:
ANGRY PROTESTORS RETURNED
TO WASHINGTON.

AS TENSIONS ROSE, THE SECRET
SERVICE RINGED THE WHITE HOUSE

WITH A BARRICADE OF BUSES.

Man:
IT WAS LIKE LIVING IN A BUNKER
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

YOU'D LOOK OUT IN THE STREETS

AND SEE THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE PROTESTING.

YOU LITERALLY WERE AFRAID
FOR YOUR LIFE.

THERE WERE TIME
WHEN I CAN REMEMBER SAYING

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

"A FREE COUNTRY.

"HERE WE ARE IN THE WHITE HOUSE
WITH BARRICADES UP

"AND BUSES AROUND
THE WHITE HOUSE

"AND TEAR GAS GOING OF

"AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PROTESTERS OUT IN THE STREETS

AND TROOPS SITTING HERE."

Narrator:
AN EMBATTLED NIXON FACED THE
PRESS AS ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATORS

CONTINUED TO FLOCK
TO WASHINGTON.

Journalist:
WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE STUDENTS

ARE TRYING TO SAY
WITH THESE DEMONSTRATIONS?

THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY
THAT THEY WANT PEACE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY THAT
THEY WANT TO STOP THE KILLING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY
THAT THEY WANT TO END THE DRAFT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY THAT
WE OUGHT TO GET OUT OF VIETNAM.

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT
THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

I BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT
THE DECISIONS THAT I HAVE MADE

WILL SERVE THAT PURPOSE.

Crowd:
♪ ALL WE ARE SAYING ♪

♪ IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE ♪

Narrator:
THAT NIGHT, PROTESTORS
CIRCLED THE WHITE HOUSE

WITH CHANTS AND CANDLES.

INSIDE, A SLEEPLESS NIXON MADE
MORE THAN 40 PHONE CALLS

TO FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
AROUND THE COUNTRY.

NEAR DAWN, HE CALLED FOR A CAR
AND ASKED TO BE DRIVEN

TO THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
WHERE PROTESTORS HAD GATHERED.

WHITE HOUSE AIDE,
EGIL KROGH FOLLOWED HIM.

IT WAS... I GUESS IT WAS ALMOST
A SURREAL ATMOSPHERE.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE DREAMLIKE.

IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?

WALKING UP THE STAIRS
OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

AND THERE WAS THE PRESIDENT

SORT OF STANDING IN THE MIDDLE
OF A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE

WHO WERE WEARING COMBAT FATIGUES

WITH PEACE SYMBOLS,
AND BANDANNAS...

ALL OF THE CLOTHING
OF THE '60s AND THE '70s

AND TRYING VERY HARD TO...
TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM.

I THINK I SAID, "WELL,
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO

"ABOUT THE KENT STATE KILLINGS?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT
THE WAR?"

HE SAID, "I'M REALLY NOT HERE
TO TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE TRYING TO HANDLE THINGS."

SO IT WAS A ONE-WAY, YOU KNOW,
CONVERSATION OR A ONE-WAY STREET

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HE WAS THERE

TRYING TO BE VERY CONVERSATIONAL
AND CASUAL

AND WE WERE THERE
OUTRAGED AND ANGRY AND SCARED.

Krogh:
ONE STUDENT BASICALLY TOLD HIM

SAID, "I HOPE THAT YOU REALIZE

THAT WE ARE WILLING TO DIE
FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN."

AND I THINK... AS I RECALL,
THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE WAS

"WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT
WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD A WORLD

WHERE PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE TO
DIE FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN."

Choir:
♪ OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS ♪

♪ OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS ♪

Singer:
IF YOU LOVE HIM, SING!

♪ OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS ♪

Singer:
♪ TO KNOW THAT JESUS... ♪

SWEET, LOVING MERCIFUL
JESUS IS OURS.

HE BELONGS TO ALL OF US WHO WANT
TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT HIM.

Narrator:
WHEN HE APPEARED
AS THE GUEST OF HONOR

AT A BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE
IN TENNESSEE

NIXON HAD BEEN IN OFFICE
16 MONTHS.

A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS STILL
BACKED HIS VIETNAM POLICY

BUT THE FUROR OVER CAMBODIA
HAD DEEPENED THE DIVISIONS

NIXON HAD PROMISED TO MEND.

EVEN HERE, SURROUNDED BY
THOUSANDS WHO SUPPORTED HIM

THE PRESIDENT COULD NOT ESCAPE
THE CEASELESS STORM OF PROTEST.

AND IF WE'RE GOING
TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER

AS WE MUST BRING THEM TOGETHER

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEACE
IN THE WORLD

IF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO HAVE A FULFILLMENT

BEYOND SIMPLY
THOSE MATERIAL THINGS

THEY MUST TURN TO THOSE
GREAT SPIRITUAL SOURCES

THAT HAVE MADE AMERICA
THE GREAT COUNTRY THAT IT IS.

I'M PROUD TO BE HERE

AND I'M VERY PROUD
TO HAVE YOUR WARM RECEPTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Man:
LET US SING TOGETHER

"GOD BLESS AMERICA,
MY HOME, SWEET HOME."

♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA,
LAND THAT I LOVE ♪

♪ STAND BESIDE HER,
AND GUIDE... ♪

Narrator:
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT YEAR

NIXON CONTINUED TO TRY
TO RALLY HIS SUPPORTERS

WHILE DENOUNCING HIS OPPONENTS

CALLING SOME
AMONG THE PROTESTERS

"THUGS" AND "HOODLUMS"

BLAMING HIS CRITICS
IN CONGRESS AND THE PRESS

FOR FAILING TO SUPPORT THE WAR.

♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA... ♪

Narrator:
ALL U.S. TROOPS LEFT CAMBODIA
BY THE END OF JUNE

AS NIXON HAD PROMISED.

HE INSISTED THAT
THE MILITARY ACTION

WHICH HAD CAUSED SUCH TURMOIL

HAD EASED THE PRESSURE
ON THE TROOPS IN VIETNAM.

WITHDRAWALS CONTINUED
ON SCHEDULE

BUT MORE AMERICAN LIVES
HAD BEEN LOST.

THERE WAS NO BREAKTHROUGH
IN THE PEACE TALKS.

AND IN THE WHITE HOUSE

AN INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED
AND SUSPICIOUS NIXON URGED

INTENSIFIED SURVEILLANCE
OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT.

HE GREW DISTRUSTFUL EVEN
OF HIS CLOSEST ADVISORS

AND INSTALLED HIDDEN MICROPHONES
IN HIS OWN OFFICE

IN PART, SO THAT HIS AIDES
COULD NOT LATER CLAIM

TO HAVE DISAGREED
WITH HIS DECISIONS.

BUT THE TAPING SYSTEM
WOULD EVENTUALLY TRAP

THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF.

Narrator:
ON JUNE 12, 1971,
THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF

PREPARED FOR A WEDDING
IN THE ROSE GARDEN.

THE PRESIDENT'S ELDER DAUGHTER,
TRICIA, WAS TO BE MARRIED

TO A YOUNG LAW STUDENT,
EDWARD COX.

RAIN THREATENED THE CEREMONY.

NIXON SPENT MUCH OF THE
AFTERNOON ON THE PHONE

TO AIR FORCE WEATHERMEN.

FINALLY, THERE WAS A PREDICTION

OF A 15-MINUTE BREAK
IN THE WEATHER.

I GOT TO GET DRESSED!

I'VE GOT TO GET ALL MY THINGS...
MY HAIR DONE.

Man:
I SAW THE PRESIDENT MORE RELAXED

MORE HAPPY AND MORE
LIKE A TYPICAL AMERICAN FATHER

THAN I'VE SEEN HIM
IN A LONG, LONG TIME.

Interviewer:
HE LOOKED LIKE
HE WAS DOING

A GREAT JOB
OUT ON THE DANCE
FLOOR TOO.

YES...

AND HE DOESN'T DANCE
ALL THAT OFTEN, YOU KNOW.

Narrator:
"IT WAS A DAY THAT
ALL OF US WILL REMEMBER"

NIXON LATER WROTE

"BECAUSE WE WERE
BEAUTIFULLY AND SIMPLY HAPPY."

THE NEXT MORNING, NIXON
PICKED UP THE NEW YORK TIMES.

IN THE LEFT CORNER WAS
AN ACCOUNT OF TRICIA'S WEDDING.

ACROSS THE PAGE WAS
ANOTHER HEADLINE:

THE FIRST INSTALLMENT
OF WHAT CAME TO BE CALLED

THE PENTAGON PAPERS, A SECRET
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT STUDY

WHICH REVEALED PAST
GOVERNMENT DECEPTION

ABOUT THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

I FELT AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN...

Narrator:
DANIEL ELLSBERG, A FORMER
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE

WHO HAD TURNED AGAINST THE WAR

HAD GIVEN THE TOP-SECRET
DOCUMENTS TO THE PRESS.

I COULD NO LONGER COOPERATE WITH
CONCEALING THIS INFORMATION

FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

Narrator:
ALTHOUGH THE PENTAGON PAPERS
CONTAINED NOTHING

ABOUT THE NIXON POLICY
IN VIETNAM

IT WAS A LEAK
OF ENORMOUS MAGNITUDE.

THE PRESIDENT
AND HENRY KISSINGER SAW IT

AS A DISTURBING PRECEDENT

AND A THREAT
TO THEIR SECRET DIPLOMACY.

Colson:
THERE WAS PANIC
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND I REMEMBER BEING IN MEETINGS
WITH HENRY KISSINGER THAT DAY

IN WHICH HE SAID
"THIS COULD CAUSE THE COLLAPSE

"OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY

"AND THIS COULD UNDERMINE
OUR INITIATIVES

WITH CHINA AND
THE SOVIET UNION."

AND DON'T FORGET, AT THAT TIME
PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW

THAT WE WERE NEGOTIATING
SECRETLY WITH THE CHINESE.

THEY DID NOT ALSO KNOW
THAT WE WERE CONDUCTING

SECRET NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE NORTH VIETNAMESE

TO END THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

AND SO A LOT OF THINGS WERE
GOING ON THAT WE KNEW

THAT THE PUBLIC DIDN'T.

Narrator:
JUST FIVE WEEKS LATER,
THE TIMES PUBLISHED ANOTHER LEAK

THIS ONE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING
TO NIXON'S FOREIGN POLICY.

IT REVEALED U.S.
NEGOTIATING TACTICS

AND UPCOMING ARMS TALKS
WITH THE SOVIETS

AND IT SEEMED TO CONFIRM NIXON'S
WORST FEARS ABOUT THE PRESS.

Krogh:
I HAD SEEN HIM ANGRY
IN MEETINGS IN THE PAST

BUT I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED
THIS KIND OF FURY

WHERE HE WAS BASICALLY
WALKING AROUND THE ROOM

SLAMMING HIS FIST IN HIS HANDS

SAYING THAT THIS
CANNOT BE TOLERATED.

WE CANNOT LET THIS GO ON!

Colson:
NIXON BECAME OBSESSIVE
ABOUT THE PRESS COVERAGE.

WE HAD A DAILY NEWS SUMMARY
THAT WAS PREPARED

BY A YOUNG MAN
IN THE WHITE HOUSE

AND BY THE TIME
I GOT TO THE WHITE HOUSE

THE PRESIDENT HAD ALREADY READ
IT AND HAD MARKED ON THE COLUMNS

"JOHN CHANCELLOR LAST NIGHT
SAID THIS, RESPOND TODAY."

"CALL UP SO-AND-SO."

"LOOK AT THIS...
YOU CAN'T TRUST THESE PEOPLE."

"NEWSWEEK HAS DONE IT
TO US AGAIN."

I'D GET NIXON'S NEWS SUMMARY

WITH ALL THESE COMMENTS
DOWN THE SIDE

AND SO YOU HAD THE IDEA,

WHEN YOU WENT TO WORK
IN THE MORNING

YOU WERE GOING
TO WAR WITH THE PRESS.

Narrator:
A SENSE OF BEING UNDER SEIGE
PERVADED THE WHITE HOUSE

FUELED BY THE LEAKS, THE
CONSTANT ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATIONS

AND INTENSIFYING CRITICISM
IN THE PRESS.

IN THIS ATMOSPHERE
OF "US VERSUS THEM"

COLSON'S OFFICE BEGAN
AN EVER-EXPANDING LIST

OF NIXON'S CRITICS...
"THE ENEMIES LIST."

ITS OBJECT WAS "TO SCREW
OUR POLITICAL ENEMIES."

REPORTERS AND POLITICIANS,
EDUCATORS AND ENTERTAINERS

WERE BARRED FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE.

SOME WERE TARGETED
FOR TAX AUDITS

OTHERS WERE TRAILED
BY PRIVATE DETECTIVES.

Colson:
AND IT WAS VERY
SHORTLY THEREAFTER

THAT NIXON AUTHORIZED
THE PLUMBERS...

THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL
GROUP TO STOP LEAKS

AND THEY BEGAN

TO TAKE EXTRALEGAL STEPS AND
PUT INTO MOTION THE MECHANISM

WHICH ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN THE
DOWNFALL OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

Narrator:
IN A WHITE HOUSE MEMO

REGARDING THE NEUTRALIZATION
OF DANIEL ELLSBERG

THE PLUMBERS DISCUSSED
HOW THEY MIGHT

"DESTROY HIS PUBLIC IMAGE
AND CREDIBILITY."

IN SEARCH OF DAMAGING
INFORMATION

ABOUT ELLSBERG'S PRIVATE LIFE

THEY ARRANGED A BREAK-IN AT
THE OFFICE OF HIS PSYCHIATRIST.

Krogh:
THEY APPARENTLY BROKE A WINDOW

ON THE WAY IN.

AND REALIZING THAT IT COULD
NO LONGER BE VIEWED

AS A COVERT OPERATION

CHANGED COURSES AND DECIDED
TO MAKE IT LOOK

AS IF IT HAD BEEN
ENTERED BY A BURGLAR

LOOKING FOR DRUGS
OR SOME OTHER SUBSTANCES.

BASICALLY, THEY SMASHED UP
THE OFFICE

TOOK PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE.

I WAS SHOCKED AT THESE PICTURES.

WENT TO SEE JOHN EHRLICHMAN.

HE WAS, IF ANYTHING,
MORE SHOCKED THAN I WAS

AND SAID, "SHUT IT DOWN
AS OF NOW."

Narrator:
THE PLUMBERS WERE
EVENTUALLY DISBANDED

BUT SOME OF THE AGENTS
WERE REASSIGNED

TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES

FOR THE NEWLY-FORMED COMMITTEE
TO REELECT THE PRESIDENT.

REELECTION HAD BECOME
NIXON'S CONSUMING CONCERN.

FROM THE FIRST DAY
OF HIS PRESIDENCY

HE HAD FOUGHT TO HOLD ON
TO HIS "SILENT MAJORITY"

AND HAD SHAPED
HIS DOMESTIC POLICIES

IN PART TO WIN THEIR VOTES.

BUT THOSE VOTERS
WERE SLIPPING AWAY.

UNEMPLOYMENT
AND INFLATION WERE UP.

RACIAL DIVISIONS HAD DEEPENED

AND STILL, WEEK AFTER WEEK,
THE DEAD CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM.

NIXON'S POPULARITY HAD FALLEN
SO LOW THAT HE HAD BEGUN TO FEAR

HE WOULD NOT EVEN
BE RENOMINATED IN 1972.

Announcer:
GOOD EVENING.

THE 37th PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

RICHARD M. NIXON, IS IN CHINA...

THE FIRST AMERICAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

EVER TO VISIT THE WORLD'S
MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY.

Narrator:
ON FEBRUARY 18, 1972

RICHARD NIXON BEGAN STILL
ANOTHER REMARKABLE COMEBACK

WITH A STUNNING
FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESS.

Reporter:
PRESIDENT NIXON'S MOTORCADE

IS NOW SWEEPING TOWARD
THE CITY OF PEKING.

Reporter:
HERE COMES THE MOTORCADE NOW,
AS YOU SEE.

Narrator:
THE WORLD WATCHED AS RICHARD
NIXON DROVE THROUGH A CITY

THAT FEW OUTSIDERS HAD SEEN FOR
NEARLY A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

"HE KNEW," SAID
THE NEW YORK TIMES

"THAT FOR THIS JOURNEY,
NO MATTER WHAT ELSE OCCURRED

HE WOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED."

THAT AFTERNOON, NIXON
WAS ABRUPTLY SUMMONED

TO SEE MAO TSE-TUNG.

AMERICAN TELEVISION WAS
UNAWARE OF THE MEETING.

THE ONLY COVERAGE WAS
BY CHINESE CAMERAMEN

WITH BLACK AND WHITE FILM.

THIS ENCOUNTER BETWEEN NIXON,
THE CAREER ANTI-COMMUNIST

AND CHAIRMAN MAO,
THE LEADER OF THE LARGEST

COMMUNIST REVOLUTIONARY
MOVEMENT IN HISTORY

SHOCKED NIXON'S
OLD CONSERVATIVE ALLIES.

THEY ACCUSED HIM OF SURRENDERING
TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNISM.

BUT FOR NIXON, IT WAS ALL PART
OF HIS GLOBAL STRATEGY.

BY VISITING CHINA,
HE WAS BEGINNING TO EXPLOIT

THE DIVISIONS
IN THE COMMUNIST WORLD.

Man:
ONE OF NIXON'S
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

IN OPENING UP WITH CHINA

WAS TO GIVE HIM MORE LEVERAGE
WITH THE SOVIET UNION.

THESE RELATIONS WERE
ESSENTIALLY STALLED

BUT SOON AFTER
THE OPENING WITH CHINA

THE SOVIET UNION BECAME MUCH
MORE FLEXIBLE ON SEVERAL FRONTS.

THEY AGREED TO A SUMMIT MEETING
WITH US IN 1972

AND THEY BEGAN
TO BE MORE REASONABLE

ON VARIOUS ARMS CONTROL ISSUES.

Colson:
NIXON ENJOYED THE POWER GAME

PROBABLY AS MUCH AS ANY
PRESIDENT IN MODERN TIMES.

HE PLAYED IT VERY HARD
AND VERY CLEVERLY

AND VERY CAREFULLY
IN THE WORLD SCENE.

HE WAS ALWAYS
THINKING STRATEGICALLY...

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE QUALITIES

THAT SOMEONE HAS TO HAVE
IN FOREIGN POLICY

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT
MAKE DECISIONS IN FOREIGN POLICY

BASED ON TODAY'S CIRCUMSTANCE.

YOU'VE GOT TO THINK
ABOUT ITS RAMIFICATIONS

FOR FIVE, TEN, 15, 20 YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD

IT'S LIKE A CHESS PLAYER:

YOU'RE ANTICIPATING
SIX MOVES AHEAD

IF YOU'RE A GOOD CHESS PLAYER.

Group:
♪ WE LOVE YOU, PRESIDENT ♪

♪ OH, YES WE DO ♪

♪ WE LOVE YOU, PRESIDENT,
AND WE'LL BE TRUE ♪

♪ WHEN YOU'RE NOT NEAR US,
WE'RE BLUE ♪

♪ OH, PRESIDENT, WE LOVE YOU. ♪

Narrator:
IN THE SPRING OF 1972

THE NORTH VIETNAMESE SUDDENLY
LAUNCHED A MASSIVE OFFENSIVE.

SOUTH VIETNAM'S FORCES
WERE OVERWHELMED.

THOUSANDS FLED.

IF THE OFFENSIVE WERE NOT
STOPPED, THE WAR WOULD BE LOST

AND WITH IT, NIXON FEARED,
THE PRESIDENCY.

BUT IF HE ORDERED
A U.S. COUNTERATTACK

THE SOVIETS MIGHT CANCEL

THE UPCOMING ARMS CONTROL
SUMMIT IN MOSCOW...

A VITAL PART
OF NIXON'S GRAND DESIGN.

MOST OF HIS ADVISORS URGED NIXON
NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION

THAT MIGHT JEOPARDIZE
THE SUMMIT.

ONCE AGAIN,
NIXON OVERRULED THEM.

HIS VIEW WAS THAT IT
WOULD BE EMBARRASSING

FOR HIM TO GO TO MOSCOW

WITHOUT RESPONDING
TO NORTH VIETNAMESE AGGRESSION.

HE WOULD LOOK WEAK.

HE'S TALKING TO SOVIET LEADERS

WHO ARE PROVIDING ARMS
TO THE NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS

WHO ARE KILLING AMERICAN TROOPS.

SO HE DIDN'T THINK
THE SUMMIT WAS WORTH IT

UNLESS HE COULD ALSO SHOW
THAT HE WAS STRONG

WITHIN VIETNAM ITSELF.

Narrator:
NIXON ORDERED THE MOST
DRASTIC ESCALATION

OF THE WAR SINCE 1968...

MASSIVE, SUSTAINED
BOMBING OF HANOI

AND THE MINING
OF HAIPHONG HARBOR

RISKING A FULL-SCALE
CONFRONTATION WITH THE SOVIETS

BY PUTTING THEIR SUPPLY
SHIPS IN PERIL.

AFTER EXPLAINING HIS DECISION
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

HE MADE A DIRECT APPEAL
TO THE KREMLIN.

OUR TWO NATIONS HAVE MADE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS

IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS
IN RECENT MONTHS.

WE ARE NEAR MAJOR AGREEMENTS
ON NUCLEAR ARMS LIMITATION

ON TRADE, ON A HOST
OF OTHER ISSUES.

LET US NOT SLIDE BACK
TOWARD THE DARK SHADOWS

OF A PREVIOUS AGE.

WE DO NOT ASK YOU TO SACRIFICE
YOUR PRINCIPLES OR YOUR FRIENDS

BUT NEITHER SHOULD YOU PERMIT
HANOI'S INTRANSIGENCE

TO BLOT OUT THE PROSPECTS

WE TOGETHER HAVE
SO PATIENTLY PREPARED.

Narrator:
NIXON'S GAMBLE PAID OFF.

THE SOVIETS DID
NOT CANCEL THE SUMMIT.

ON MAY 22, 1972

RICHARD NIXON BECAME
THE FIRST AMERICAN PRESIDENT

EVER TO SET FOOT
INSIDE THE KREMLIN.

NIXON HAD DONE WHAT NONE
OF HIS PREDECESSORS

HAD BEEN ABLE TO DO.

HE HAD NEGOTIATED A TREATY

IN WHICH THE TWO SUPERPOWERS
AGREED TO SLOW AN ARMS RACE

THAT HAD BEEN ACCELERATING

FOR MORE THAN
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

IT WAS HIS GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT.

TWO DAYS LATER, FIVE BURGLARS

WORKING FOR THE COMMITTEE
TO REELECT RICHARD NIXON

ENTERED THE WATERGATE COMPLEX
IN WASHINGTON.

THEY BROKE INTO THE OFFICE

OF THE DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL COMMITTEE

PLACED BUGS ON THE TELEPHONES
AND MADE THEIR ESCAPE.

BUT THE MICROPHONES
FAILED TO WORK.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK.

THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator:
NIXON RETURNED
FROM MOSCOW IN TRIUMPH.

HE HAD ALMOST COMPLETED
THE WITHDRAWAL

OF AMERICAN FORCES FROM VIETNAM,
OPENED THE DOOR TO CHINA

AND SIGNED THE FIRST
NUCLEAR ARMS LIMITATION TREATY

SINCE THE DAWN
OF THE ATOMIC AGE.

HE HAD OFTEN SAID THAT
ALL HE WANTED WAS A LIFE

WITH ONE MORE VICTORY
THAN DEFEAT.

NOW THAT VICTORY...
A SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT...

SEEMED HIS FOR THE ASKING.

Reporter:
FIVE MEN WEARING WHITE GLOVES
AND CARRYING CAMERAS

WERE CAUGHT EARLY TODAY
IN THE HEADQUARTERS

OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON.

THEY APPARENTLY WERE UNARMED

AND NOBODY KNOWS YET
WHY THEY WERE THERE

BUT I DON'T THINK
THAT'S THE LAST

WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
OF THIS STORY.

FIVE MEN WEARING WHITE GLOVES
AND CARRYING CAMERAS

WERE CAUGHT EARLY TODAY
IN THE HEADQUARTERS

OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON.

THEY WERE CAUGHT
BY A NIGHT WATCHMAN,

AND THEY DID NOT RESIST ARREST
WHEN THE POLICE CAME.

THEY APPARENTLY WERE UNARMED

AND NOBODY KNOWS YET
WHY THEY WERE THERE.

THE FILM IN THE CAMERA
HADN'T EVEN BEEN EXPOSED.

IN ANY CASE THEY'RE BEING HELD.

Narrator:
"ON SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 18,"
RICHARD NIXON LATER WROTE,

"I LEFT FOR KEY BISCAYNE.

"WHEN I GOT TO MY HOUSE,

"I COULD SMELL COFFEE
BREWING IN THE KITCHEN

"AND I WENT IN TO GET A CUP.

"THERE WAS A MIAMI HERALD
ON THE COUNTER

"AND I GLANCED OVER
THE FRONT PAGE.

"THE MAIN HEADLINE WAS ABOUT
THE VIETNAM WITHDRAWALS.

"THERE WAS A SMALL STORY

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE..."

Announcer:
THE WATERGATE APARTMENT-HOTEL-
OFFICE COMPLEX IN WASHINGTON

HAS A FORTRESS-LIKE APPEARANCE,
BUT THE BURGLARS PENETRATED...

Announcer:
FOUR OF THE MEN ARRESTED

WERE CUBAN NATIONALS
NOW LIVING IN MIAMI

AND THE FIFTH, JAMES McCORD, WAS
A FORMER F.B.I. AND C.I.A. AGENT

RECENTLY EMPLOYED
AS A SECURITY AIDE

BY THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

AND THE COMMITTEE TO
REELECT THE PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SECRETARY
RON ZEIGLER

TODAY CALLED THE INCIDENT
A "THIRD-RATE BURGLARY

AND NOTHING THE PRESIDENT
WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH."

Narrator:
BUT THE PRESIDENT WAS CONCERNED.

ON JUNE 23, HE MET WITH HIS
CHIEF OF STAFF, H.R. HALDEMAN.

Narrator:
TO THWART THE F.B.I.
INVESTIGATION,

HALDEMAN SUGGESTED THAT
THE BREAK-IN COULD BE MADE

TO LOOK LIKE A C.I.A. OPERATION.

Narrator:
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT NIXON
HAD ORDERED THE BREAK-IN,

BUT HIS AIDES HAD.

THE PRESIDENT APPROVED THE PLAN
TO DIVERT THE F.B.I.

Narrator:
"I SAW WATERGATE AS POLITICS,
PURE AND SIMPLE,"

NIXON WROTE IN HIS MEMOIRS.

"WE WERE GOING TO PLAY IT TOUGH.

"I NEVER DOUBTED
THAT WAS EXACTLY

HOW THE OTHER SIDE
WOULD HAVE PLAYED IT."

Man:
RICHARD NIXON PULLED IT
INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE COULDN'T LEAVE IT ALONE.

AND SO WITHIN A WEEK
AFTER THE BREAK-IN,

OR MAYBE TWO WEEKS, HE HAD
PERSONALLY INVOLVED HIMSELF

IN THE INTRIGUE
OF THE WHOLE THING.

SO NIXON SEALED HIS FATE
SIX DAYS AFTER THE BREAK-IN.