Misdemeanor Committed
Richard Nixon was linked to a sequence of offenses that were quite in line with the “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” clause of the Constitution. His involvement in the Watergate scandal was basically about obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt for Congress (Townley, 2020). Nixon and his administration attempted to hide their involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Complex by using federal officials and resources as impediments to investigations. These actions directly contradicted the principles of the rule of law and transparency. They were seen as gross abuses of presidential authority and severe breaches of trust bestowed on the executive branch.
Circumstances That Led to the Impeachment
The events that led to Nixon’s imminent impeachment started when five men were arrested for breaking into the Watergate complex, followed by investigative journalism by the Washington Post, which linked this crime to Nixon’s reelection campaign committee. Subsequent investigations disclosed that Nixon had installed a taping system in his office and taped numerous conversations about conspiracy plans (Townley, 2020). This condition worsened after Nixon refused to surrender these tapes, thereby leading to a significant constitutional crisis.
Outcome of the Impeachment
The impeachment was averted when Nixon resigned in August 1974, before the House could vote on it and long before any Senate trial could occur (Library of Congress, n.d.). The first and only US president to have resigned his post while in office, he stepped down after realizing he lacked sufficient backing from Congress to avoid being ousted. This followed intense political pressure and impending impeachment, as even members of his party started withdrawing support. Subsequently, Nixon was pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, ending any chance of criminal prosecution.
Sources Used
Library of Congress. (n.d.). Federal Impeachment: Richard Nixon.
Townley, D. (2020). The Watergate crisis. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History.