Deep Suspicion Question: Question: There probably will always be mysteries The charge has been made that President As far as the war in Vietnam is concerned, surrounding “Watergate,” the web of scan- Nixon could have made the Vietnam peace do you think President Nixon has been dals that brought down the presidency of settlement long ago and that he delayed it frank and straightforward about the war, or Richard M. Nixon. We still don’t know just to help his reelection. Do you agree or do you think he has not told the American who “Deep Throat” was, or exactly what disagree with this charge? people the real truth about the situation Nixon knew and when he knew it. there? As Watergate unfolded between 1972 and 1974, with such secrets only gradually com- ing to light, the public began to harbor Agree Frank, straight- doubts about how much they could trust 38% 35% Has not Disagree forward this president, in matters touching many 52% 53% told the aspects both of his personal dealings and his truth dealings with the American people. 10% 12% No opinion Not sure Source: Survey by the Opinion Research Corporation, October Source: Survey by Louis Harris and Associates, February 27-29, 1972. One of a series of surveys conducted for Richard 1972. Nixon while he was president. Question: Question: Do you feel President Nixon has been honest or not about the [Let me read you some statements about President Nixon’s releasing financing of his houses in San Clemente and Key Biscayne? information about his income and the taxes he has paid. For each, tell me if you tend to agree or disagree.] ...The tax breaks the president took were all legal and proper. Has been Agree honest 26% 29% Has not 45% Disagree 56% been honest 18% 26% Not sure Not sure Source: Survey by Louis Harris and Associates, January 7-10, 1974. Source: Survey by Louis Harris and Associates, January 7-10, 1974 I Am Not... Question: [Let me read you some statements about Richard Nixon. For each, tell me if you tend to agree or disagree.] ...He is a man of high integrity. Agree Disagree Not sure 80% 1968 72% September 11-13 72% 14% 14% 70% 1973 60% February 14-18 68 20 12 May 1-3 64 23 13 Agree 53% 50% June 14-18 43 36 21 40% November 12-15 39 46 15 35% 1974 30% Disagree May 4-7 40 50 10 20% June 1-4 34 55 11 July 17-21 35 53 12 10% 14% 0 1968 2/735/738/73 11/73 3/74 7/74 Source: Surveys by Louis Harris and Associates, latest that of July 17-21, 1974. 50 Public Perspective, July/August 2002 Worth Pursuing? Question: Question: Critical Mass Do you believe that the Senate hearings on [Tell me if you agree or disagree.] ...Presi- the Watergate matter are helping or hurt- dent Nixon still has most of his second term ing the country? in the White House to go, so it is best to give It can be hard to locate the line of integrity that him the benefit of the doubt in the politicians are not supposed to cross, but one of the Watergate bugging and cover-up. earlier known occasions on which Nixon’s staff leaped right over it was when White House “plumbers” Helping burglarized the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychia- Disagree trist. "The president's men" hoped to find informa- 33% Hurting tion damaging to Ellsberg, a former defense analyst 54% 34% who leaked the Pentagon Papers—a secret Defense Agree 54% Department study of the Vietnam War—to The New 13% York Times. By late 1973, the Ellsberg caper would No opinion 12% be only one of many dubious dealings being paraded Not sure before the eyes of a wearying public. Source: Survey by the Opinion Research Corporation, August Source: Survey by Louis Harris and Associates, June 14-18, 18-20, 1973. One of a series of surveys conducted for Richard 1973. Question: Nixon while he was president. Here is a list of charges or criticisms thatTitle have been made against President Nixon. You may feel that some are not true, and that others are not bad. Would you... call off any that you Just Politics personally are concerned about both because you think it is a serious offense and because you think he may be responsible for it? Question: Question: [Do you agree or disagree with the Withholding evidence from the Compared to other administrations of Senate subcommittee and the 56% the last 25 years, do you think there is following statements?] ...There is a special prosecutor more corruption in the Nixon adminis- certain amount of corruption in every Covering up the tration, less corruption, or little differ- administration, and this one is no better 53% Watergate break-in ence in this respect? or worse than most. Firing Special Prosecutor Cox and causing the resignation of [the] Attorney General and 50% Assistant Attorney General Disagree Less 8% 14% Using government funds for his homes at San Clemente 42% Neither agree nor and Key Biscayne Little difference 58% disagree (vol.) 6% Paying only $1,700 income tax on two years of 40% presidential salary More 29% Agree 73% Keeping the bombing of Cambodia secret 36% Source: Survey by the Gallup Organization, May 2, 1973. Source: Survey by the Opinion Research Corporation, Ordering the bombing of Cambodia 31% October 6-8, 1972. One of a series of surveys conducted for Richard Nixon while he was president. Preparing a list of political enemies to be harassed by the 26% Internal Revenue Service Question: Question: Planning the Watergate ...[T]ell me if you agree or disagree... Which of these two statements comes break-in 24% Dirty campaign tactics exist among most closer to your point of view about Establishing a White Republicans and Democrats, and the Watergate?... It’s a very serious matter House espionage unit 23% (the “plumbers”) Nixon campaign people were no worse because it reveals corruption in the Approving a plan for political than the Democrats, except that they Nixon administration, [or] it’s just poli- surveillances which FBI Director 22% got caught. tics—the kind of thing both parties Hoover later rejected engage in. Offering the post of FBI director to the judge trying the 21% Ellsberg case Disagree 23% Stealing the files from Dr. Very serious Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office 19% 49% 64% Agree 13% Not sure Just politics None of them 13% 47% Don’t know 8% Note: Asked of those who have heard or read about Watergate (98%). Source: Survey by Louis Harris and Associates, June 14- Source: Survey by the Gallup Organization, August 17-20, Note: Multiple responses were allowed. 18, 1973. 1973. Source: Survey by the Roper Organization, November 3-17, 1973. Public Perspective, July/August 2002 51.