Word: agnew
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...some as if the new scandal might help Nixon by diverting public attention from Watergate, but that was a short-sighted view. "Watergate is like a Russian novel," commented a top Administration official. "There were too many names. Nobody took any money and people didn't really understand it. Agnew's difficulties are different. Those are charges that people understand." Chances are that people in fact understand Watergate much better than the White House hopes; at any rate, it was now clear to all that wrong had been done in high office, and that the general atmosphere of suspicion included...
Throughout the months of the Watergate hearings, Spiro T. Agnew had been artfully staying on the sidelines. He played a lot of golf at Burning Tree and a lot of tennis at the Linden Hill Club. He bought himself a new twelve-room house in Bethesda, Md., for $190,000, and the Secret Service installed the usual safety devices (an electronic-eyed brick-and-redwood fence for $39,000). His last major speech was in June, and his main official work consisted of playing host to state visitors. In short, even by vice-presidential standards, Agnew was keeping...
Last week, he had to announce to a stunned public: "I am under investigation for possible violation of the criminal statutes." Specifically, the inquiry centers on allegations by Maryland contractors and others that Agnew collected payoffs during his terms as Baltimore County executive (1962-66), as Maryland Governor (1967-68), and even as Vice President. He faces possible charges of extortion, bribery, tax evasion and conspiracy...
Although he first vowed to maintain silence until the investigation was completed, Agnew quickly changed his mind after aides convinced him that such a silence would be politically disastrous. In marked contrast to Nixon, Agnew called a press conference to deny any wrongdoing. Looking confident and totally in command during 30 minutes of televised questioning, the Vice President branded a set of newspaper reports that he had once accepted $1,000 a week in illegal funds as "damned lies." He said that he had "absolutely not" accepted money for personal use from Maryland contractors and that "I have nothing...
There was little doubt that Agnew's bravura performance won him sympathy and support. Nevertheless, "contingent thinking" was the order of the day in Washington. Were Agnew's chances for a presidential bid shattered? Probably?unless he is cleared and cleared soon. But if he is found blameless, might he not turn into a ready-made "reform" candidate for the Republicans in 1976? On the other hand, if Agnew is indicted, will Nixon not be compelled to demand his resignation? If so, would Nixon then replace him with a docile party-liner or with a major political figure...