Video: 'Is the President Above the Law? | United States v. Nixon'

(Wednesday, July 24, 1974, 11:00 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today, 8 to 0, that President Richard Nixon must provide potential evidence for the criminal trial of his formers subordinates, rejecting flatly the President’s contention that he had absolute authority to withhold such material.

Video: 'PBS Nixon (1990)_3of3' (July 24, 1974, at 45:55)

Eight hours later in California, the President announced through his attorney that he “would accept the high court ruling and comply fully.” Until today, White House spokesmen had strongly indicated that Nixon might choose to defy the Justices.

As a result of the historic court decision, announced by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger in a tense, packed chamber, the President will surrender tape recordings and other data involving 64 White House conversations for use in the Watergate cover-up trial, and possibly in impeachment proceedings as well.

Video: '"Watergate: The Secret Story" - 1992' (July 24, 1974, at 1:19:19)

In a broader perspective, the Supreme Court reaffirmed with today’s ruling its position, carved out in the early days of the republic, that the judicial branch decides what the law is and the executive branch is bound by that determination.

Video: 'Watergate Episode 5: "Impeachment," Discovery Channel, August 21, 1994' (July 24, 1974, at 41:23)

Associate Justice William Rehnquist recused himself from the decision because he had worked for the U.S. Attorney General in the past and had been appointed to his position by Nixon.

The decision would clear the way for the release of the incriminating tape of June 23, 1972, in which Nixon authorized obstruction of defense.