Newspaper from The New York Times on August 9, 1974. The headline reads "Nixon Resigns" followed by "he urges a time of healing; Ford will take office today."

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Court Limits Executive Privilege, Orders Nixon to Release Tapes

A close up of the front page of the The New York Times newspaper reporting that President Richard Nixon resigned after the Watergate scandal.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Court Limits Executive Privilege, Orders Nixon to Release Tapes

Overview

A congressional hearing about President Nixon’s Watergate break-in scandal revealed that he had installed a tape-recording device in the Oval Office. The special prosecutor in charge of the case wanted access to these taped discussions to help prove that President Nixon and his aides had abused their power and broken the law. President Nixon claimed executive privilege and refused to hand over the tapes. President Nixon’s incomplete compliance with the special prosecutor’s demands was challenged and eventually taken to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court decided that executive privilege is not limitless, and the tapes were released.

Newspaper from The New York Times on August 9, 1974. The headline reads "Nixon Resigns" followed by "he urges a time of healing; Ford will take office today."

A close up of the front page of the The New York Times newspaper reporting that President Richard Nixon resigned after the Watergate scandal.

"Absent a claim of need to protect military, diplomatic, or sensitive national security secrets, we find it difficult to accept the . . . [absolute] confidentiality of presidential communications."

- Chief Justice Warren Burger, speaking for the majority

Learning About United States v. Nixon

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