ABSTRACT
Richard Nixon wrote of the Watergate break-in in his memoir, describing its immediate aftermath as a competition for dominance with Democrats and their allies in the press to define what Watergate was. He originally won, then lost, then won again—he was re-elected in an historic landslide in November 1972, successfully characterizing the Watergate caper as "a third-rate burglary" that need concern no one. Nixon helped propel in his post-presidency, rather than face the unalterable logic that he had led a criminal conspiracy designed to cover up the scandal. Nixon had security operative John Caulfield unlawfully enter Joseph Kraft's home to bug his phone. Nixon justified it in the interest of national security. Nixon and his family with Ron Ziegler seated by his side were flying for a final time on Air Force One over Missouri when Gerald Ford famously told the American people on television "our long national nightmare is over".
