What were the three reasons that Nixon gave for refusing to turn over the White House tapes

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Jan 9, 2024

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1. What were the three reasons that Nixon gave for refusing to turn over the White House tapes? When asked to give up the tapes the first time Nixion refused by claiming that the tapes were vital to national security and their release could compromise it. The next reason Nixon gave was that this matter was to be handled between the president and the special prosecutor, making it an executive branch issue exclusively and not one to be given over to the judicial branch. The final workaround he attempted was that only the president could decide the scope of executive privilege. President Nixon the stated that the tapes confidentiality was part of that privilege. 2. What do these reasons illustrate about Nixon’s understanding of the division of power within the federal government? These excuses President Nixon gave for not releasing the tapes revealed that he did not believe in the power of checks and balances. His actions showed that he considered the executive branch superior when compared to the other two and that it held special privileges. His reasonings also showed us that he viewed information as a danger to the public and that the American people had to be kept safe by staying in the dark. This would create a future precedent that the people of America are still dealing with in modern times. 3. How did Nixon’s argument illustrate his ideas about the power of the presidency? Many of Nixon’s disturbing comments showed that he considered the executive branch the most powerful of all three branches. He described many times that the judicial and legislative branch have no control over the executive branch in matters of state security. Nixon also made it very clear that the publics knowledge of the executive branch should be on a need-to-know basis. Much of this was fueled by his paranoia and suspicions of his “enemies” and he believed that his enemies were also Americas enemies. 4. What did Chief Justice Burger say about the origins of executive privilege? How does this origin justify his decision about Nixon releasing the tapes? Chief Burger stated that the origin of executive privileges power comes from the constitution itself. He claimed that the President does not decide what is executive privilege and that only the courts can determine that. Chief Burger stated that withholding the tapes was not allowed under executive privilege because it was interfering with a legal investigation. At the end of the case the Supreme Court stated that executive privilege should never be enacted to interfere with an ongoing legal case.
5. Did United States v. Nixon expand the power of the presidency? After the decision of U.S. v. Nixon, the power of the presidency would be curtailed and somewhat diminished. Up to the point of Nixon the executive branches power grew larger and larger. The ruling of the Supreme Court set out specific boundaries and red lines for future administrations to follow. This of course would fade over time as current administrative powers are starting to grow, and we find ourselves as a nation at the same crossroads. 6. Why did Nixon resign? Once the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the Nixon administration to withhold the tapes, Nixon knew the game was up. He realized that the whole cover up would come to light and since he was impeached, he could be removed from office. He decided to resign and save face while also trying to protect himself from further legal action once he was out of office. President Gerald Ford would later pardon Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal.
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