37th president s resignation. Next june we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the watergate breakin a crime of consequence that would go on to define a scandal in a critical period in 20th century history. Our distinguished speaker this evening was inside of the white house as it all unfolded. Geoff shepard was a white house fellow who was later assigned to the Domestic Council in the Nixon Administration. When the white house began requiring a Legal Defense as the watergate matter grew in 1973 and 74. Jeff was the youngest lawyer on the team. He was the first to listen to the smoking gun tape. He coined the phrase smoking gun. In fact later. He was there in the east room on august 9th as president nixon said farewell to his staff. And Geoff Shepard was standing in the back of the east room, and he was not happy. After hearing the smoking gun tape people leave like many the president nixon was hiding the truth and had been for several years. And then jeff started digging. And he
37th president s resignation. Next june we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the watergate breakin a crime of consequence that would go on to define a scandal in a critical period in 20th century history. Our distinguished speaker this evening was inside of the white house as it all unfolded. Geoff shepard was a white house fellow who was later assigned to the Domestic Council in the Nixon Administration. When the white house began requiring a Legal Defense as the watergate matter grew in 1973 and 74. Jeff was the youngest lawyer on the team. He was the first to listen to the smoking gun tape. He coined the phrase smoking gun. In fact later. He was there in the east room on august 9th as president nixon said farewell to his staff. And Geoff Shepard was standing in the back of the east room, and he was not happy. After hearing the smoking gun tape people leave like many the president nixon was hiding the truth and had been for several years. And then jeff started digging. And he
Is a threat to democracy . Well, to our system, you know, the assaults on the institutions starting with my own, the Intelligence Community and his characterization of us as nazis. The commentary he has made about the judiciary, and individual judges. The assault on the bureau are examples which are not constructive for our country. General clapper, i appreciate your time. Thank you very much. Thanks for having me. Very tough words from General Clapper there. If you are just joining us now, lets quickly lay out the top story tonight. The riveting testimony, did he make the case for the Obstruction Of Justice . And well get reaction from the
Intelligence Community, and first, dana bash with all the key moments. Reporter the former fbi director under oath and unvarnished, called the president who fired him, a liar. The administration then chose to defame me by saying that the organization was in disarray. That it was poorly led, that the work force had lost confidence in its leaders. Tho
Accomplices ended up trying to stop the investigation. They tried to stop the criminal investigation into what had happened. When they say about watergate the coverup was worse than the crime, this is what thats about. It was spelled out in the first article of impeachment brought against nixon. Richard m. Nixon using the powers of his office engaged personally and through his close subordinates interfering or endeavoring to interfere with the conduct of investigations by the department of justice, the federal bureau of investigation, the office of Watergate Special prosecution force and congressional committees. Endeavoring to interfere. That was the first article of impeachment against nixon. Obstruction of justice. In the aftermath of watergate, in the aftermath of nixons resignation, in the aftermath of that National Political disaster, there were a bunch of political reforms. And one of the reforms was a structural, basically technical fix to head off some of the sins outlined in
Investigation into what had happened. When they say about watergate the coverup was worse than the crime, this is what thats about. It was spelled out in the first article of impeachment brought against nixon. Richard m. Nixon using the powers of his office engaged personally and through his close subordinates interfering or endeavoring to interfere with the conduct of investigations by the department of justice, the federal bureau of investigation, the office of Watergate Special prosecution force and congressional committees. Endeavoring to interfere. That was the first article of impeachment against nixon. Obstruction of justice. In the aftermath of watergate, in the aftermath of nixons resignation, in the aftermath of that National Political disaster, there were a bunch of political reforms. And one of the reforms was a structural, basically technical fix to head off some of the sins outlined in that first article of impeachment, the issue of the president interfering in this case