What Did Creep Do In Addition To The Watergate Break-ins

The Watergate scandal, etched in history as a symbol of political corruption and abuse of power, is often solely associated with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. However, the Committee to Re-elect the President, infamously known as CREEP, engaged in a far wider range of illegal and unethical activities designed to sabotage political opponents and secure President Richard Nixon's re-election in 1972. These actions, extending far beyond mere burglary, exposed a deeply ingrained culture of deceit, paranoia, and disregard for the rule of law within the Nixon administration.

The Watergate Break-Ins: A Starting Point

Before delving into CREEP's broader transgressions, it's essential to understand the initial act that triggered the Watergate scandal: the break-ins themselves.

• The First Break-In (May 28, 1972): A team led by G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, both former intelligence officers, broke into the DNC headquarters to plant listening devices and gather information on the Democrats' campaign strategy.
• The Second Break-In (June 17, 1972): Dissatisfied with the quality of the bugging devices and the information gleaned from the first break-in, the team returned to the Watergate. This time, however, they were caught in the act by a security guard, leading to their arrest and the unraveling of the entire Watergate conspiracy.

While these break-ins were a significant event, they were just the tip of the iceberg. CREEP's other activities, often more insidious and far-reaching, painted a disturbing picture of a campaign operating outside the bounds of legality and ethical conduct.

Beyond Burglary: CREEP's Multifaceted Misdeeds

CREEP's efforts to secure Nixon's re-election extended far beyond the Watergate break-ins. They engaged in a series of covert operations, illegal fundraising activities, and smear campaigns designed to undermine the Democratic Party and silence dissent.

1. Political Espionage and Sabotage ("Ratfucking")

One of CREEP's primary objectives was to gather intelligence on the Democratic candidates and disrupt their campaigns. This involved a range of activities, often referred to as "ratfucking," including:

• Infiltrating Democratic Campaigns: CREEP operatives infiltrated the campaigns of Democratic candidates, posing as volunteers or supporters to gather information and sow discord. They attended rallies, fundraising events, and strategy meetings, reporting back on the candidates' plans and vulnerabilities.
• Disrupting Campaign Events: CREEP operatives disrupted Democratic campaign events, creating chaos and confusion. This included tactics such as planting hecklers in the audience, spreading false rumors, and even physically interfering with rallies and speeches.
• Forging Letters and Documents: CREEP operatives forged letters and documents to discredit Democratic candidates. This included creating fake campaign literature that misrepresented the candidates' positions and writing anonymous letters to the media accusing them of wrongdoing.
• Following and Harassing Opponents: Democratic candidates and their staff were often followed and harassed by CREEP operatives. This included monitoring their movements, tapping their phones, and spreading rumors about their personal lives.

These activities were designed to demoralize the Democratic candidates, damage their reputations, and ultimately, reduce their chances of defeating Nixon in the election.

2. Illegal Campaign Fundraising

CREEP engaged in a variety of illegal fundraising activities to amass a war chest for Nixon's re-election campaign. These activities violated campaign finance laws and ethical standards, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the integrity of the electoral process.

• Soliciting Illegal Corporate Contributions: CREEP solicited large, illegal contributions from corporations. At the time, corporate contributions to political campaigns were prohibited by law. However, CREEP circumvented this prohibition by accepting secret donations from corporations in exchange for political favors.
• Laundering Campaign Funds: CREEP laundered campaign funds to conceal the source of the donations and avoid detection by the authorities. This involved funneling money through shell corporations and offshore accounts to disguise its origins.
• Extorting Contributions: CREEP operatives extorted contributions from individuals and businesses by threatening them with negative consequences if they did not donate. This included threatening to audit their taxes, investigate their business practices, or deny them government contracts.
• "Cash for Influence": CREEP offered political favors in exchange for large campaign contributions. This included promises of ambassadorships, government appointments, and favorable legislation.

These illegal fundraising activities gave Nixon's campaign a significant financial advantage over his Democratic opponents, allowing him to outspend them on advertising, staff, and other campaign resources.

3. The Huston Plan: Domestic Spying and Surveillance

The Huston Plan, developed in 1970, was a proposal for a massive expansion of domestic intelligence gathering. While the plan was ultimately rejected by J. Edgar Hoover, the Director of the FBI, it reflected the Nixon administration's willingness to engage in illegal and unethical surveillance of its political opponents and critics.

• Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance: The Huston Plan called for the expanded use of wiretapping and electronic surveillance against suspected dissidents and political opponents. This included tapping the phones of journalists, activists, and even members of Congress.
• Mail Interception: The plan also proposed the interception of mail to gather information on suspected dissidents. This would have involved opening and reading the mail of individuals and organizations deemed to be a threat to national security.
• Infiltration of Domestic Groups: The Huston Plan advocated for the infiltration of domestic groups, including anti-war organizations and civil rights groups. This would have involved planting informants within these groups to gather intelligence and disrupt their activities.
• "Black Bag Jobs": The plan also authorized "black bag jobs," which are clandestine entries into private residences and offices to gather information. This would have involved breaking into homes and offices without a warrant to search for documents and other evidence.

Although the Huston Plan was never fully implemented, it demonstrated the Nixon administration's willingness to consider extreme measures to suppress dissent and maintain power. The fact that such a plan was even proposed reflects the climate of paranoia and distrust that permeated the White House during this period.

4. Smear Campaigns and Character Assassination

CREEP engaged in a series of smear campaigns and character assassination attempts to discredit Nixon's political opponents and damage their reputations. These campaigns often relied on false information, innuendo, and personal attacks.

• Spreading False Rumors: CREEP operatives spread false rumors about Democratic candidates to damage their reputations. This included rumors about their personal lives, their finances, and their political beliefs.
• Leaking Damaging Information: CREEP operatives leaked damaging information about Democratic candidates to the media, often without verifying the accuracy of the information. This included leaking confidential documents, personal records, and unsubstantiated allegations.
• Using "Dirty Tricks": CREEP operatives used a variety of "dirty tricks" to harass and intimidate Nixon's political opponents. This included making anonymous phone calls, sending threatening letters, and vandalizing their property.
• Targeting the Media: CREEP targeted journalists who were critical of Nixon and his administration. This included harassing them, threatening them, and attempting to discredit them.

These smear campaigns were designed to undermine the credibility of Nixon's political opponents and influence public opinion in his favor.

5. Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Justice

As the Watergate scandal unfolded, the Nixon administration engaged in a systematic effort to cover up the truth and obstruct justice. This involved using the power of the presidency to interfere with investigations, intimidate witnesses, and destroy evidence.

• Paying Off Witnesses: Nixon and his aides authorized the payment of "hush money" to the Watergate burglars to keep them from talking to the authorities. This was a clear attempt to obstruct justice and prevent the truth from coming out.
• Destroying Evidence: Nixon and his aides ordered the destruction of documents and other evidence that could have implicated them in the Watergate scandal. This included shredding documents, erasing tapes, and concealing evidence in secret locations.
• Using the CIA to Obstruct the FBI Investigation: Nixon attempted to use the CIA to obstruct the FBI's investigation into the Watergate break-in. He argued that the investigation could compromise national security and asked the CIA to pressure the FBI to back off.
• Firing Archibald Cox: When Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate Watergate, refused to back down, Nixon ordered him to be fired in what became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." This was a blatant attempt to interfere with the investigation and protect himself from prosecution.

These actions constituted a serious abuse of power and demonstrated a willingness to go to any lengths to cover up the truth about Watergate.

The Broader Implications of CREEP's Actions

CREEP's actions during the 1972 election had far-reaching consequences for American politics and society.

• Erosion of Public Trust: The Watergate scandal eroded public trust in government and political institutions. The revelations of widespread corruption and abuse of power shook the nation and led to a decline in public confidence in elected officials.
• Strengthening of Campaign Finance Laws: The Watergate scandal led to the strengthening of campaign finance laws. Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974, which limited campaign contributions and expenditures, and established the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to enforce the law.
• Increased Scrutiny of Government Activities: The Watergate scandal led to increased scrutiny of government activities and a greater emphasis on transparency and accountability. The media and the public became more vigilant in monitoring the actions of elected officials and demanding answers to difficult questions.
• Lasting Impact on Political Discourse: The Watergate scandal had a lasting impact on political discourse, contributing to a climate of cynicism and distrust. The term "Watergate" became synonymous with political corruption and abuse of power, and it continues to be invoked in discussions of political scandals today.

Conclusion

CREEP's activities during the 1972 election extended far beyond the Watergate break-ins. They engaged in a wide range of illegal and unethical activities designed to sabotage political opponents, raise illegal campaign funds, and obstruct justice. These actions exposed a deeply ingrained culture of deceit, paranoia, and disregard for the rule of law within the Nixon administration. The Watergate scandal had a profound and lasting impact on American politics and society, eroding public trust in government, strengthening campaign finance laws, and contributing to a climate of cynicism and distrust. While the break-in at the DNC headquarters served as the catalyst, the full extent of CREEP's malfeasance reveals a far more disturbing picture of political corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of government. The lessons learned from Watergate remain relevant today, serving as a reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in politics.