Nixon History Question. Help Please?

Question

Why did the Justice Department and Supreme Court demand that NIXON turn over the WHITE HOUSE TAPES?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Once a burglary had been established at watergate, the country had the right to know if Nixon had knowledge of the break in prior to it's occurrence.  This would establish Nixon as a criminal, who committed a felony, and thus could be indicted for the impeachment process.

Answer 2

The Justice Department had nothing to do with the release of the tapes. The Justice Department works for the president.  They were trying to prevent their release.

In April 1974, the House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the tapes of 42 White House conversations. At the end of that month, Nixon released edited transcripts of the White House tapes..  Nixon initially refused to release the tapes, claiming they were vital to national security. The Ervin committee then took the matter to court.  On July 24, the Supreme Court voted 8-0 (Justice William Rehnquist recused himself) in United States v. Nixon that Nixon must turn over the tapes. In late July 1974, the White House released the subpoenaed tapes. One of those tapes was the so-called "smoking gun" tape, from June 23, 1972, six days after the Watergate break-in. In that tape, Nixon agrees that administration officials should approach the Director of the CIA and ask him to request that the Director of the FBI halt the Bureau's investigation into the Watergate break-in on the grounds that the Watergate break-in was a National Security matter. In so agreeing, Nixon had entered into a criminal conspiracy whose goal was the obstruction of justice — a felony, and an impeachable offense.

Answer 3

Research the "Best Evidence Rule."

In any Court case - particularly a Criminal Prosecution - the BEST evidence is required to be presented by the Prosecutor.

The tapes were better than guys saying what they said 2-3 years before.

Answer 4

From the web: In April 1974, the House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the tapes of 42 White House conversations. At the end of that month, Nixon released edited transcripts of the White House tapes. The transcripts revealed conversations concerning the punishing of political opponents and the halting of the Watergate investigation. The Judiciary Committee, however, rejected Nixon’s edited transcripts, saying that he did not comply with their subpoena.

Sirica, acting on a request from Jaworski, issued a subpoena for the tapes of 64 presidential conversations to use as evidence in the criminal cases against the indicted officials. Nixon refused, and Jaworski appealed to the Supreme Court to force Nixon to turn over the tapes. On July 24, the Supreme Court voted 8-0 (Justice William Rehnquist recused himself) in United States v. Nixon that Nixon must turn over the tapes.

In late July 1974, the White House released the subpoenaed tapes. One of those tapes was the so-called "smoking gun" tape, from June 23, 1972, six days after the Watergate break-in. In that tape, Nixon agrees that administration officials should approach the Director of the CIA and ask him to request that the Director of the FBI halt the Bureau's investigation into the Watergate break-in on the grounds that the Watergate break-in was a National Security matter. In so agreeing, Nixon had entered into a criminal conspiracy whose goal was the obstruction of justice — a felony, and an impeachable offense.

Once the "smoking gun" tape was made public on August 5, Nixon's political support evaporated. Every single Republican on the House Judiciary Committee who had voted against impeachment in committee announced that he would now vote for impeachment once the matter reached the House floor. In the Senate, it was said that Nixon had at most a half dozen votes.

Facing impeachment in the House of Representatives and a probable conviction in the Senate, Nixon announced his resignation on the evening of Thursday, August 8, to take effect at 12 noon the next day.