VM-202

Journalist and host of the film, Charles McDowell, speaking from the empty Senate Caucus Room into the camera. He talks about the Watergate Committee Hearings thus far and John Dean's testimony.

Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. speaks from his porch to McDowell unseen about his phone call to President Nixon to ask for his cooperation.

Talking head, Watergate Committee Investigator, Scott Armstrong, speaks to unseen reporter about John Dean's testimony, and other miscellaneous White House employee's stories.

Richard Moore, White House Aide, testifies at the Watergate Committee Hearings on Friday, July 13, 1973

Fred D. Thompson, Former Minority Counsel, talking from his office to unseen reporter reminiscing about a private conversation he had with Don Sanders, a key figure in the investigation, where Sanders verified that everything in the Oval Office is on tape. A big revelation that would have a great impact on the investigation.

B&W photo still Fred D. Thompson on the phone.

CU Alexander Butterfield speaking into mics from witness table, introduces himself and footage of his testimony mainly about the listening devices in the Oval Office of the President.

Fred Thompson and Senator Baker and another Senator at the conference table questioning Butterfield.

Time Magazine with mangled audio tape on the cover of Time Magazine entitled "The Nixon Tapes" "Playback Wanted".

A member of the Senate Watergate Comittee, Senator Inouye from Hawaii speaks with unseen interviewer about the incriminating tapes and state if they weren't the President would have happily released them.

B&W still photo shot through glass door looking into the President's office - Nixon can barely be seen with his feet up on his desk.
Z'in from there to CU on still shot of President Nixon staring out and looking contemplative and not too happy

Color still photo John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman

Z'in Exterior - White House

Various photo stills 1973 - John Ehrlichman, H.R. Haldeman, President Richard Nixon - shots in the White House, Ehrlichman's arrest surrounded by media, Ehrlichman with a grey beard - photos of him in the 1980's

WS of the Senate Caucus room, the conference table with Committee members seated, media kneeling or sitting on the in front of the table

Chairman of the Watergate Committee, Senator Sam Ervin questioning Ehrlichman at the hearing.

Watergate Committee member, Senator Herman Talmadge (Democrat-GA), questioning John Ehrlichman. Ehrlichman responding.

Footage from the Hearing - Chairman (Senator) Ervin, and Counsel - Sam Dash sitting next to him, making a point, bringing levity to the situation and a bit of laughter from the audience, including John Ehrlichman.

Slow pan the audience in the crowded Senate Caucus room during the hearing

Slow pan the Committee conference table, member seated with mics and papers on the table. Media is seen kneeling or sitting on the floor in front of the table.

Fred Thompson, at his desk in his office, speaking with an unseen interviewer 10 years after the hearings.

John Ehrlichman sums up his testimony and comments on the testimony from White House Aid. Gordon Strong..

Various B&W photo stills Bob Haldeman (Former White House Chief of Staff) - sitting with President Nixon in the White House amongst huge piles of papers; with John Ehrlichman, Henry Kissinger and others, flying with other dignitaries in Air Force One, outside Federal Prison Camp Administration Building. And years later seen with his wife.

Seated at the witness table, Haldeman testifies at the hearing.

CU Bob Haldeman testifying at the Watergate Committee Hearings, July 1973

Senator Daniel K. Inouye (Democrat Hawaii) questioning Bob Haldeman at the hearing about the tapes. Haldeman testifies that when he took the tapes home to listen to them, the existence of the secret tapes was unknown to other than a limited number of people.

Committee members at the conference table, Senator Lowell Weicker, Senator Ervin and legal counsel Sam Dash. Papers strewn about across the table.

CU Senator Howard Baker questioning Haldeman. Haldeman seen at witness table with his attorney leafing through his notes.

CU H.R. Haldeman's face looking serious and stern.

Years later, Senator Weicker talking with unseen interviewer about his intense questioning of Haldeman.

Wide shot of the Seanate Caucus Room - Watergate Committee members are seen seated at the conference table, the witness table is seen, media and other folk in the room.

Terry F. Lenzner, Former Assistant Chief Counsel to the Committee speaking with an unseen interviewer about Segretti's testimony and their attempt to subvert and infiltrate candidates for President.

tilt down on the papers, false letters, that Senator Inouye questions Segretti about. Inouye, unseen, points out a particular letter which had accused Senator Jackson and Humphrey of sexual misconduct.

CU Senator Sam Ervin, Jr. questions Donald Segretti at the Hearing. CU on Segretti where he states "pranks" or anything of the like do not belong in the American political system. Ervin pressures and cross examines.

Cutaway to int. shot of the crowded Senate Caucus room. Senate Committee conference table partially seen.

CU hands holding and gesturing over an article close to mics, article headline partially obscured. "....in a plot to sabotage McGovern"

Kelly testifies and gives details about the allegation by the Committee that he intended to parade a nude woman past Muskie headquarters and she was to shout, "Muskie I love You". His testimony brings laughter from the audience.

Back with Journalist and Host Charles McDowell talking into camera sums up the hearings thus far. The hearings at this point were winding down, the President's part in Watergate became the central issue, and talk of impeachment was in the air.
He states that the hearings had provided the most compelling view of a political scandal in American history. And responsibility in the case had moved to the Judiciary Committee in the House - they used the evidence from the hearings and their own to determine whether Nixon would be impeached.

CU House Representative Charles Wiggins (Republican California) speaks into camera. Narrator, unseen states, states Wiggins and other Republicans felt the Dems were moving too fast and not giving enough attention to the evidence.

CU Representative Paul Sarbanes (Democrat Maryland) holding up a document , the U.S. Constitution, as he speaks to Congress and audience members about ending the abuse of power and obstruction of justice.

Representative Walter Flowers, Democrat - Alabama, states his case for impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

Representative James R. Mann, Democrat - South Carolina. Mann talks to about accountability.

The House Judiciary Committee states their vote for impeachment - one by one each member's name is called out and they verbally casts their vote.

New York Times headlines, July 1974 - Nixon Must Surrender Tapes, Supreme Court Rules, 8 to 0; He Pledges Full Compliance

Fast aerial pan across Washington D.C. pan stops at the White House.

Chicago Tribune newspaper headlines: "Impeachment sure, Nixon admits; support crumbles."

Nixon and his wife seen walking through a crowd and past the podium.
Historic footage of Nixon speaking to his staff for the last time - as his family stands stoically nearby.

Nixon filmed walking up the stairs onto the plane stops at the top and waves to the American people. Military officers are seen.
CU Vice President Ford and Mrs. Ford standing in a crowd of people.

Journalist and Host Charles McDowell introduces and welcomes, Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow from the Brookings Institution, political scientist, and writer of a biography of Richard Nixon before Watergate, and had worked in the 1969 Nixon White House.
McDowell cuts to a clip of Hess from 10 years ago.

Hess talks with McDowell about his experience listening to the Hearings in the '70's and how he couldn't handle what he was hearing at the time, it gave him nightmares, as he knew Nixon personally for many years. Hess goes on talking about Nixon and what he knew about him.