The 1972 Presidential election - Nixon/Agnew -v- McGovern/Shriver was one of the most significant elections in recent US history. The Nixon/Agnew Republican ticket won by one of the largest electorial college landslides - 520 electorial votes. The 1972 Republican ticket carried every state except Massachusetts & the District of Columbia ( Washington, DC ).President Richard Nixon & Vice President Spiro Agnew were elected to office in 1968 - winning a narrow victory over Hubert Humphrey & Edmund Muskie. Their first term focused on ending US military involvement in the war in Vietnam - and domestic policies dealing with serious economic issues. The Nixon Administration took a rather " progressive approach " to domestic policies - policies that would be considered " liberal " by todays political standards.During the first term, the Nixon Administration became increasing incensed ( and obsessed ) by the " leaks " that were coming out from various sources - and the hostile press. As a result, the Nixon White House initiated numerous " strategies " to stop the leaks - strategies that included ( unwisely ) harrassing their " political enemies." These strategies eventually lead to the Watergate break-ins in 1972 - attempts to get information about their political opponents - the Democrats. There was increasing paranoia ( that proved to be unwarranted ) in the Nixon White House about their chances of winning reelection in 1972.On June 17, 1972 the offices at the Democratic National Commitee headquarters at the Watergate were broken into - it was later learned that the White House was directly involved in the break-in. The sensational case became known as " Watergate." The Committee to Re-Elect the President " CREEP." was responsible for the break-in - however, the President and some of his top aides became involved in the subsquent cover up. The taped " Smoking Gun " conversation on June 22, 1972 directly implicated President Nixon in the cover up. The contents of the " Smoking Gun " conversation between Richard Nixon & H.R. Haldeman included utilizing the CIA to block the FBI investigation into the Watregate break-in - a clear abuse of power by the president & his top aides.The Watergate Scandal broke wide open during the spring of 1973. Congressional Hearings pertaining to the Watergate Scandal were held during the summer of 1973. On a seperate corruption charge, Vice President Spiro Agnew was forced to resign on October 10, 1973 due to corruption charges & tax evasion. Gerald R. Ford was appointed Vice President in December 1973. During the spring & summer of 1974 Impeachment hearings were commenced. In July 1974 several Articles of Impeachment were passed - an action that would have most likely resulted in the removal of the president. President Richard Nixon was forced to resign the presidency on August 9, 1974 to avoid certain Impeachment & removal from office.Gerald R. Ford became the 38th president on August 9, 1974.The Nixon Administration accomplished many very positive initiatives during their 5 1/2 years in office. President Nixon opened the door to Red China in 1972 - that initiative has proven to be one of the most significant acheivements in international foreign policy. Had it not been for the Watergate Scandal, the Nixon Administration would have been ranked among the most effective & significant presidencies in modern US history - especially in the areas of foreign policy.
