July 2019 Auction Ends Thursday, July 25th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/25/2019
Fascinating 50pp. press release, issued by the Nixon White House on 25 April 1974, in concert with the release of transcripts of 42 recorded Presidential conversations - the infamous ''tapes''. The transcripts were released by the White House in order to comply with a subpoena by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, and in this press release the Administration attempts to control the narrative, with a timeline of the Watergate scandal, and selected excerpts from the tapes that purport to show the President's innocence.
Press release begins, ''...the President has repeatedly stated, he will not participate in the destruction of the office of the Presidency of the United States by permitting unlimited access to Presidential conversations and documents...'' It continues under the heading, ''The Break-in at the Watergate - June 17, 1972'', by stating that Nixon was in Florida during the break-in and ''had no prior knowledge of this activity and had nothing whatsoever to do with it. No one has stated otherwise, not even Mr. Dean''. An excerpt from the tapes then reads, ''P[resident]. 'Of course I am not dumb and I will never forget when I heard about this - forced entry and bugging. I thought 'what is this? What is the matter with these people, are they crazy?' I thought they were nuts.'...''
Despite the White House's efforts to exonerate the President, who even went on national television on 29 April to plead his case, the public reaction to the transcripts was not good for Nixon, with the Senate Majority Leader calling the conversations ''deplorable, disgusting, shabby, and immoral''. In just over three months, public pressure would be so great that President Nixon resigned before facing near certain impeachment by Congress. Press release runs 50 pages on 25 sheets measuring 7.75'' x 10.25''. Toning on some pages and mild discoloration. Paperclip imprint at top left. Overall very good condition.
Nixon White House Press Release From April 1974, Issued in Concert With the Release of the Tape Transcripts -- ''...not once does it appear that the President...was engaged in a criminal plot...''
Click above for larger image.