Category Archives: 1970s

Mitchell’s wife telephones White House correspondent about Watergate 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, Watergate


Video: Mrs. Mitchell telephones Thomas (at 5:38)

(Thursday, June 22, 1972) — Five days after the Watergate break-in, Martha Mitchell, wife of John Mitchell, who was head of Nixon’s re-election campaign, telephoned UPI White House correspondent Helen Thomas from a villa in Newport Beach, California, to say she had told her husband she would “leave him unless he gets out of the campaign.”

I’m sick and tired of politics. Politics is a dirty business,” Mitchell said. Before the phone was apparently yanked out of the wall, she yells, “You get away. Just get away.”

White House organizing hush money for Watergate burglars 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, Watergate


Video: June 22, 1972 (at 5:02)

(Thursday, June 22, 1972) — Five days after the Watergate break-in, the burglars were brought to court to be released on bail. Meantime, U.S. President Richard Nixon’s men set about organizing their hush money, under the direction of Nixon’s private lawyer Herb Kalmbach.

Nixon, Haldeman discuss Watergate cover-up 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: June 21, 1972 (at 7:53)

(Wednesday, June 21, 1972) — U.S. President Richard Nixon, by now deeply involved in the Watergate cover-up, today proposed to White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman to use the CIA background of E. Howard Hunt (one of two engineers of the Watergate burglary) to confuse the FBI, among other things.


Video: June 21, 1972 (continued)

Nixon calls Mitchell to discuss Watergate burglary 40 years ago tonight (1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: June 20, 1972 (at 4:23)

(Tuesday, June 20, 1972) — U.S. President Richard Nixon said he called John Mitchell tonight to cheer him up because Mitchell was chagrined because he had not properly controlled those under him — in the re-election campaign, which he headed — and the Watergate burglary was embarrassing the administration.

Washington Post connects Watergate break-in with White House 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: Washington Post connects Watergate break-in with White House (at 6:23)

(Monday, June 19, 1972) — Based on a tip from Deep Throat, the pseudonym given to a secret informant (later identified as Federal Bureau of Investigation Associate Director Mark Felt), Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward discovered today that one of the Watergate burglars had E. Howard Hunt in his address book and possessed checks signed by him, and that Hunt was connected to White House aide Charles Colson.

Dean takes charge of Watergate cover-up 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, Watergate


Video: June 19, 1972 (at 1:53)

(Monday, June 19, 1972) — White House Counsel John Dean was chosen today to head up the Watergate burglary cover-up, meeting on a park bench near the White House with G. Gordon Liddy, who offered himself to be shot. Continue reading Dean takes charge of Watergate cover-up 40 years ago today (1972) →

Nixon learns of Watergate break-in 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: June 18, 1972 (at 1:08)

(Sunday, June 18, 1972) — U.S. President Richard Nixon says he learned of yesterday’s burglary at the Watergate complex today when he read a small article on the front page of The Miami Herald newspaper while he was vacation with his friend Bebe Rebozo in Key Biscayne, Florida.


Video: Video: June 18, 1972 (at 0:20)

‘Sail Away’ album by Randy Newman debuts at #186 in USA 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, June 17, 1972) — Sail Away by Randy Newman debuted at #186 on today’s Billboard’s 200 albums chart (it will eventually peak at #163). The title song (and first on the album to play) is ranked #264 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.