Watergate Chronology

January

20,1969

Richard M. Nixon elected the thirty-seventh president of the United States

1969

Ehrlichman suggests to Caulfield that he leave the White House and set up a

private security business that would provide security to the 1972 Nixon

campaign. This project, Sandwedge, would be similar to the Kennedy security

firm, Intertel.

June 5, 1970

With the goal of increasing cooperation between various intelligence agencies

within the government, a meeting was called in the Oval Office. Those in

Attendance: Richard Nixon, J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Helms, and chiefs of the

NSA and the DIA. Nixon aide Tom Charles Huston was assigned to work with

the heads of these agencies to facilitate increased cooperation.

early July,

1970

The Huston Plan sent to the President. This plan was an addition made by

Huston to a plan endorsed by Hoover and Helms (NSA and DIA as well?).

Huston's addition called for electronic surveillance, monitoring activities,

surreptitious entries, recruitment of more campus informants, et al.

July 14, 1970

Nixon endorses the Huston Plan

July 27, 1970

Hoover visits John Mitchell. Mitchell hears about the Huston plan for the first

time.

Mitchell later goes to Nixon and urges the President to Stop the plan.

Nixon later cancelled the plan.

September

17, 1970

Mitchell met with John Dean. Mitchell discussed the poor job that the FBI was

doing in the area domestic intelligence. This followed a conversation between

Mitchell, Helms and others from the CIA on a similar topic.

September

18, 1970

John Dean sends a memo to John Mitchell in which he offers a plan for

intelligence gathering.

"The most appropriate procedure would be to decide on the type of

intelligence we need, based on an assessment of the recommendations of

this unit, and then to proceed to remove the restraints as necessary

to

obtain such intelligence."

May 3, 1971

Following Nixon's decision concerning Laos, Anti-Vietnam activists attempt to

shutdown Washington by blocking roads with stalled cars, human blockades,

garbage cans, and other materials. The protests result in over 12,000 arrests.

John Dean headed up the White House intelligence gathering during this protest.

June 13,

1971

The New York Times begins publication of excerpts from "The Pentagon

Papers".