Question

Which of the following events occurred during the conflict over the White House tapes?

Check any of the boxes that apply.

Nixon sought the firing of the special prosecutor.

Nixon destroyed the Watergate tapes.

Nixon claimed executive privilege

Answer 1

- Nixon sought the firing of the special prosecutor — Yes.
- He ordered the removal of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox (the "Saturday Night Massacre" sequence of resignations/firings).

- Nixon destroyed the Watergate tapes — No (not as a general, proven fact).
- Some tape recordings contained an unexplained 18½-minute gap likely caused by erasure, but Nixon did not destroy the entire tape set; the tapes were ultimately produced (after litigation).

- Nixon claimed executive privilege — Yes.
- He refused to turn over Oval Office tapes citing executive privilege; the Supreme Court rejected that claim in U.S. v. Nixon (1974).