Memorable Phrases
18 ½ Minute Gap: Description of the missing portion of the tape recording of the Nixon-Haldeman meeting of June 20, 1972, which was three days after the arrest of the Watergate burglars and the first time they had seen each other since those events. Haldeman's notes contain the word "Watergate". The gap was discovered when copies were being made of the tapes in anticipation of turning them over to Judge Sirica. Disclosure on November 21, 1973 led to an Evidentiary Hearing and empanelling of six tape experts. Attention was focused on the President's long time personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, who helped transcribe the tapes. The matter ultimately was referred to a Watergate Grand Jury. Woods' attorneys presented evidence that showed the tape recorder had a broken bridge rectifier that could well have caused the erasers. The Grand Jury issued a report but no indictments.
Camelot: Mythical city where King Arthur ruled with his Knights of the Roundtable and is associated with ideals of justice, bravery and virtue. Also the name of a popular musical by Lerner and Lowe that opened on Broadway in 1960. Used following JFK's assassination by his supporters to describe the imagery and optimism of his 1000 days in office.
Camelot Restoration: Goal of those who served in JFK's administration-and those who wished they had-for their return to the glorious past-and to their rightful place of power. Like royal succession, doing so would require a Kennedy brother again becoming President.
Containment; Containment Strategy: Description used within the Nixon White House to describe efforts being undertaken to limit the political damage from the Watergate break-in. Whether Nixon, Haldeman and Ehrlichman appreciated that this involved the illegal acts of the Watergate Cover-up orchestrated by John Dean and others at the CRP lies at the heart of the Watergate scandal.
Covert: CIA term of art, characterizing an operation unknown or undisclosed to others. Also the only word used in seeking John Ehrlichman's consent for what turned out to be the Plumbers intended break-in of Dr. Fielding's office during the Pentagon Papers leak investigation. Ehrlichman maintained that that covert did not necessarily mean illegal, but the Judge ruled that any undisclosed investigation by the government (without a court order) was per se illegal.
Cox's Army: Nickname used by members of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force to describe their role and operational expectations under Archibald Cox.
Deep Six: Instruction given by John Ehrlichman to John Dean concerning what to do with politically sensitive materials found in Howard Hunt's White House safe. It is not clear whether this was meant to mean "bury this so deeply that it cannot be uncovered" or toss this overboard so it is completely destroyed". Dean personally delivered the materials to Acting FBI Director Pat Gray, who kept them at home and later destroyed them. When revealed, it ended any chance of his being confirmed as FBI Director.
Deep Throat: The name of a widely distributed 1972 pornographic movie starring Linda Lovelace that was later used as the nickname of Bob Woodward's primary government source during the Watergate investigation. It is said name was coined at the publisher's request to liven up the book. Deep Throat's identity remained a secret for over three decades, until Mark Felt, former Acting FBI Director, came forth in 2005. While Felt was clearly Woodward's principal government source, many still believe the actual character protrayed in the book and movie is an artistic composit.
Firestorm of Protest: Phrase used by Al Haig, Haldeman's replacement as White House Chief of Staff, to describe the overwhelmingly negative reaction to Cox's firing in the Saturday Night Massacre.
Hush Money: Characterization of the $400,000 quietly provided to those arrested in the Watergate burglary after their arrest and prior to their sentencing by Judge Sirica. It was conceded during the Cover-up trial that all of this money went for documented legal expenses and humanitarian aid. The issue was intent-and whether it was provided for the purpose of buying continued silence by the defendants.
Inoperative: Adjective suggested by reporter on April 17, 1973 to characterize whether Ron Ziegler, Nixon's press secretary, still stood behind prior statements he had made to reporters during the Watergate investigation. Ziegler agreed his prior statements were now inoperative, thereby destroying his own credibility as Nixon's chief spokesman.
Kennedy Clan: Phrase used by Victor Navasky in his 1971 book, Kennedy Justice, to describe the Kennedy political dynasty; its mores, attitudes and expectations of loyalty; and how membership expanded greatly beyond the immediate family.
Rose Mary Stretch: Characterization of explanation of Rose Mary Woods, President Nixon's personal secretary, of how she might have inadvertently caused the 18 ½ Minute Gap by keeping her foot on the tape recorder's pedal while stretching to answer the telephone.
Saturday Night Massacre: Name used to describe Nixon's reaction to learning Cox had reneged on his prior agreement to accept third party authentication of White House tape transcripts. Nixon wanted Cox fired, but Attorney General Elliot Richardson-who may have inadvertently misinformed Nixon as to Cox's intensions during intense negotiations-chose to resign instead. Deputy Attorney General Bill Ruckleshaus offered to resign, but was terminated for refusing to follow the President's directive. Solicitor General Robert Bork, third in line of authority at the Department of Justice, carried out the Presidential order on October 19, 1973, firing Cox, abolishing the Watergate Special Prosecution Force and folding the investigation back into the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. A firestorm of protest followed and the White House announced the following Monday that it would turn over the subpoenaed tapes to Judge Sirica and would continue the WSPF under a newly named Special Prosecutor.
Sinister Force: Phrase used by Al Haig, Haldeman's replacement as White House Chief of Staff, in speculating about the origins of a series of startling revelations that engulfed the Nixon White House during Watergate. Some now believe series of adverse events was materially assisted by coordinated actions of Kennedy Clan Democcrats.
Smoking Gun: Being caught with a smoking gun is thought to be irrefutable proof of guilt. Also the characterization first used by this author to describe his understanding of the tape of the Nixon-Haldeman conversation of June 23, 1972, wherein Haldeman secured Nixon's consent to John Dean's suggestion that they get the CIA to ask the FBI put off its interrogation of two individuals: Ken Dahlberg and David Ogarrio. In Haldeman's words:
"Their investigation is now leading into some productive areas-because they've been able to trace the money-not through the money itself-but through the bank sources-the banker. And, it now goes in some directions we don't want it to go.
Release of this tape on August 5, 1974 confirmed a clear obstruction of justice had occurred and led directly to President Nixon's resignation four days later. It later developed that CIA intervention had only postponed the two interviews for nine days and that, when interviewed, no wrongdoing was discovered. It is much more likely Haldeman and Nixon's intent (although not necessarily John Dean's) was to protect the identities of pre-April 7th Democratic contributors, rather than-as later claimed-to thwart tracing the money back to the CRP.
Stonewall: Allusion to Andrew Jackson, famous Confederate General whose division held the line 'like a stonewall' to repel a Yankee charge. Later used to characterize a rigidly non-cooperative defense response to a scandal-and the instruction allegedly given by President Nixon to John Mitchell on March 22, 1973 in order to "save the [Cover-up] plan". Some believe the transcription of this tape by the House Judiciary Impeachment Inquiry staff constituted a deliberate misunderstanding of their conversation.
Third Rate Burglary: Dismissive characterization of the Watergate break-in used by Ron Ziegler in his first comment about the arrests of the Watergate buglars.
Twisting Slowly, Slowly in the Wind: Characterization of Pat Gray's predicament as Senate confirmation for FBI Director became less and less likely due to revelations about his level of cooperation with John Dean during the Watergate investigation.
White House Horrors: Characterization of the long list of politically embarrassing and possibly illegal actions in the first term of the Nixon White House. Files on these matters were taken from the Counsel's office by John Dean in mid-April of 1973 and disclosed to career prosecutors (and others, including Kennedy Clan Democrats) in an attempt to obtain personal immunity. When the White House attempted to regain possession of many of these papers, Judge Sirica ordered copies turned over to WSPF and to the Ervin Committee.
Your President is not a Crook: Statement included in a speech to the nation made by President Nixon, in commenting on the growing Watergate scandal.
