Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF) Documents

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Watergate Special Prosecution Force Investigations: A Timeline

Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF) Documents Timeline

November 2, 1973: The Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF) is established within the Department of Justice. Its task is to investigate and prosecute offenses surrounding the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate complex. Leon Jaworski succeeds Archibald Cox as the head of the WSPF during this period.

January 7, 1974: The “third Watergate Grand Jury” for the District of Columbia is in operation and involved in the investigations being conducted by the WSPF.

February 7, 1974: Assistant Special Prosecutor George Frampton drafts the “Nixon Evidentiary Report,” outlining the evidence against President Richard Nixon. This report is created before the public (and most investigators) had access to the June 23, 1972 “smoking gun” tape.

March 1, 1974: The WSPF delivers its “Grand Jury Report and Recommendation Concerning Transmission of Evidence to the House of Representatives,” also known as “The Roadmap,” under seal to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

March 1974 (Shortly after March 1st): Chief Judge John Sirica provides “The Roadmap” to the House Judiciary Committee for its consideration in potential impeachment proceedings against President Nixon. The report summarizes the evidence the WSPF had gathered, some of which was not yet in the possession of the House Committee.

April 30, 1974: The White House releases its version of tape transcripts, known as the “bluebook,” to the House Judiciary Committee.

May 1975: The WSPF decides it is necessary to question former President Richard M. Nixon in connection with its ongoing investigations. Negotiations begin with Nixon’s attorneys, Herbert J. Miller, Jr., and R. Stan Mortenson, regarding the terms of this testimony.

June 23, 1975: Former President Richard Nixon provides sworn deposition testimony to the January 7, 1974, Grand Jury in San Mateo, California. Two members of the grand jury are present, and Chief Judge George Hart authorized the deposition due to Nixon’s health preventing travel to Washington D.C. The questioning covers several areas, including: * The 18½ minute gap in the June 20, 1972, tape with H.R. Haldeman. * Alleged cash receipts by Charles G. Rebozo or Rose Mary Woods on Nixon’s behalf and financial dealings between Rebozo and Nixon. * Attempts to conceal the National Security Council wiretap program. * Connections between campaign contributions and ambassadorships for Ruth Farkas, J. Fife Symington, Jr., Vincent DeRoulet, Cornelius V. Whitney, and Kingdon Gould, Jr. * The White House’s obtaining and release of information concerning Lawrence O’Brien through the IRS.

June 24, 1975: Following his grand jury testimony, Nixon participates in a further interview with the WSPF from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This interview covers topics that the WSPF deemed did not require grand jury testimony, including: * Nixon’s knowledge of the $2 million dairy fund pledge and its relation to his milk price support decision in 1971. * The submission of the “bluebook” to the House Judiciary Committee. * Richard Moore’s testimony regarding the La Costa meeting (related to funding for the Watergate burglars). * References in transcripts to the use of “goons” and Nixon’s knowledge of organized assaults on demonstrators.

November 2018: A court order allows public access to the “Road Map.” While much of the information was already known, the release provides an inside look at the WSPF’s criminal investigation.

Cast of Characters and Brief Bios

• Leon Jaworski: Served as the second head of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF), succeeding Archibald Cox in November 1973. He oversaw the crucial stages of the investigation and the creation of “The Roadmap.”
• Archibald Cox: The first head of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force. He was dismissed by President Nixon in the “Saturday Night Massacre” in October 1973, leading to Jaworski’s appointment.
• George Frampton: An Assistant Special Prosecutor within the WSPF. He drafted the “Nixon Evidentiary Report” dated February 7, 1974, which outlined the evidence against President Nixon before the full scope of the “smoking gun” tape was known.
• Richard M. Nixon: The 37th President of the United States. The WSPF investigated his potential involvement in the Watergate cover-up and other related offenses. He was questioned by the grand jury in June 1975 as part of these investigations.
• H. R. Haldeman: White House Chief of Staff under President Nixon. He was involved in a meeting with Nixon on June 20, 1972, the tape of which contained the infamous 18½ minute gap, a subject of inquiry for the WSPF.
• Charles G. Rebozo: A close friend and confidant of President Nixon. The WSPF investigated allegations that he received large amounts of cash on Nixon’s behalf and his financial transactions with the president.
• Rose Mary Woods: President Nixon’s personal secretary. She was implicated in the 18½ minute gap on the June 20, 1972, tape, claiming it was accidental. The WSPF investigated her role.
• L. Patrick Gray: Acting Director of the FBI during part of the Watergate period. The WSPF investigated his testimony at his confirmation hearings concerning the National Security Council wiretap program.
• Ruth Farkas, J. Fife Symington, Jr., Vincent DeRoulet, Cornelius V. Whitney, Kingdon Gould, Jr.: Individuals whose campaign contributions and consideration for ambassadorships were examined by the WSPF.
• Lawrence O’Brien: Chairman of the Democratic National Committee at the time of the Watergate break-in. The WSPF investigated the White House’s alleged use of the Internal Revenue Service to obtain and release information about him.
• Herbert J. Miller, Jr.: One of President Nixon’s attorneys who negotiated the terms of Nixon’s grand jury testimony with the WSPF.
• R. Stan Mortenson: Another attorney representing President Nixon during the WSPF investigations and his grand jury testimony.
• Chief Judge George Hart: The Chief Judge for the District of Columbia who signed the order authorizing Nixon’s deposition to be taken in California due to his health.
• John Sirica: Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The WSPF delivered “The Roadmap” to him under seal, and he subsequently provided it to the House Judiciary Committee.
• Richard Moore: A figure who testified about a meeting at La Costa related to raising money for the Watergate burglars, a topic the WSPF later questioned Nixon about.

Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF) Documents

5,310 pages of selected documents from and related to the Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF) held by the National Archives, Record Group 460 (Records of the Watergate Special prosecution Force, 1971–1977) located at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland. The collection also contains material held by the Gerald Ford Presidential Library covering the WSPF.

On November 2, 1973, the Watergate Special Prosecution Force was established in the Department of Justice. The WSPF was tasked with investigating and prosecuting offenses surrounding the break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate complex in 1972.

These records consist of interview notes, assorted memorandums, correspondence, grand jury records, research papers, witness documentation, assorted court files, investigative files, Ford presidential papers, and the Watergate Special Prosecution Force Final Report. Most material date during the period Leon Jaworski lead the Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF), Jaworski succeeded Archibald Cox.

Three major highlights in this material are transcripts of former President Nixon’s questioning before a grand jury. A draft indictment of President Richard Nixon. The “Nixon Evidentiary Report,” a statement of evidence against the president dated February 7, 1974 and drafted by Assistant Special Prosecutor named George Frampton. This report was created before anyone except the president had access to the June 23, 1972 “smoking gun” tape.

The collection focuses on two areas, first material related to Richard Nixon used by the WSPF for preparation of questioning Nixon, and the “Grand Jury Report and Recommendation Concerning Transmission of Evidence to the House of Representatives,” also referred to as “The Roadmap,” a guide provided to information that could be used to pursue impeachment.

NIXON RELATED MATERIAL – PREPARATION FOR GRAND JURY

In May 1975, the Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF) decided that it was necessary to question former President Richard M. Nixon in connection with various investigations being conducted by that office. The circumstances of this testimony were negotiated with Mr. Nixon’s attorneys, Herbert J. Miller, Jr., and R. Stan Mortenson. It was determined that Mr. Nixon would be questioned over the period of two days, June 23 and June 24, 1975, and that the testimony would be

taken as part of various investigations being conducted by the January 7, 1974, Grand Jury for the District of Columbia (the third Watergate Grand Jury). Chief Judge George Hart signed an order authorizing that the sworn deposition of Mr. Nixon be taken at the Coast Guard Station in San Mateo, California with two members of the grand jury present. The deposition was taken in California because Mr. Nixon’s doctor had determined that Mr. Nixon was unable to travel to Washington DC for
health reasons.

The material in this collection covers all the areas the WSPF and Mr. Nixon’s counsel agreed would be covered.

The areas of inquiry that were agreed upon by the WSPF and Mr. Nixon’s counsel were as follows:

1. The circumstances surrounding the 18½ minute gap in the tape of a meeting between Mr. Nixon and H. R. Haldeman on June 20, 1972.

2. Alleged receipt of large amounts of cash by Charles G. Rebozo or Rose Mary Woods on behalf of Mr. Nixon and financial transactions between Mr. Rebozo and Mr. Nixon.

3. Attempts to prevent the disclosure of the existence of the National Security Council wiretap program through removal of the records from the FBI, the dealing with any threats to reveal the existence of such records, and the testimony of L. Patrick Gray at his confirmation hearings to be FBI Director.

4. Any relationship between campaign contributions and the consideration of ambassadorships for Ruth Farkas, J. Fife Symington, Jr., Vincent DeRoulet, Cornelius V. Whitney, and Kingdon Gould, Jr.

5. The obtaining and release of information by the White House concerning Lawrence O’Brien through use of the Internal Revenue Service.

Mr. Nixon agreed to appear voluntarily to answer the questions of the Grand Jury. Mr. Nixon’s attorneys were present in the interview room, and they were available for consultation outside the hearing room. They were not permitted to make any statements during the actual testimony. Prior to the taking of his testimony, Mr. Nixon and his counsel were provided copies of transcripts of White House tape conversations and other documents that were proposed for use during his testimony.

There were a few subjects that the WSPF wished to explore with Mr. Nixon but for which a Grand Jury appearance was not necessary. This interview took place on June 24, 1975, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm following the conclusion of Mr. Nixon’s sworn Grand Jury testimony. The areas of inquiry for this interview are as follows:

1. Mr. Nixon’s knowledge of the $2 million dairy fund pledge and the relationship between that pledge and his milk price support decision in March 1971.

2. The submission of the “bluebook” to the House Judiciary Committee. (The “bluebook” was the version of tape transcripts created by the White House staff that was released on April 30, 1974.)

3. Richard Moore’s testimony concerning the La Costa meeting. (The meeting at La Costa related to the need to raise money for the Watergate burglars.)

4. References in various transcripts to the use of “goons” and Mr. Nixon’s knowledge of organized assaults on demonstrators.

GRAND JURY REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING TRANSMISSION OF EVIDENCE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (THE ROAD MAP) AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

“It is the belief of the Grand Jury that it should presently defer to the House of Representatives and allow the House to determine what action may be warranted at this time by this evidence,” the report says.

The Watergate Special Prosecution Force had obtained evidence through the grand juries that the House Judiciary Committee had not obtained. The Road Map consists of a two-page summary, a set of 53 numbered statements of fact, and 97 supporting documents corresponding to each statement of fact. The Road Map was delivered to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia under seal on March 1, 1974. Chief Judge John Sirica then provided it to the House Judiciary Committee.

“It gave them the sum total of the evidence that we had assembled up to that point,” Jaworski recalled in an interview a few years later. “We called it a road map in our office because it was just that.”

Some members of the Special Prosecutor’s Office wanted to indict the president for obstruction of justice and related crimes. Others in the office argued that the special prosecutor should draft a presentment charging Nixon with crimes, including obstruction of justice. According to this plan, the grand jury would approve the presentment and the presiding federal district court judge, John Sirica, would transmit it to the House of Representatives for its consideration in deliberations about possible impeachment proceedings against the president.

“There were no comments, no interpretations and not a word or phrase of accusatory nature. The ‘Road Map’ was simply that — a series of guideposts if the House Judiciary Committee wished to follow them,” Jaworski wrote in his 1976 memoir, “The Right and the Power: The Prosecution of Watergate.”

The Road Map itself remained completely secret until November 2018, when a court order allowed public access to the report. While most of the information in the “Road Map” has already been known to the public, it does provide an inside look at the criminal investigation into the scandal.

The Road Map, along with related documents that analyze the evidence collected by the Special Prosecutor, is located in three boxes in Record Group 460: Records of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force; Special Prosecutor’s Office Files; Records Relating to Richard M. Nixon.