ABSTRACT
John Mitchell justified his action as part of the executive branch's inherent responsibility to protect the government from attack and subversion. Citing national security, Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell authorized the use of wiretaps to investigate domestic organizations they believed were trying to undermine the government. Powell found the executive's conception of domestic security and its means of surveillance were too broad in scope. The government may have an interest in monitoring those who pose a threat to national security, but the government also has a tendency to suspect its most outspoken opponents of subversion. Citing national security, President Richard Nixon and Attorney General Mitchell authorized the use of wiretaps during the 1970s to investigate domestic organizations they believed were trying to undermine the government.
