Magruder begins his seven month prison sentence.

Steve Bull again testifies before the Watergate grand jury regarding the missing 18.5 minute section from June 20. He hands over his notes about what was on the tape.

Nixon attends a send off event before leaving for the Middle East the next day.

While on the Middle East trip, Nixon’s physicians tell him he has a blood clot that could be fatal, but Nixon refuses to return to the US.

The book “All the President’s Men” written by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein is published. It reveals for the first time they had a secret source only referred to as “Deep Throat”. (Woodward had asked Felt if his name could be used, but Felt responded by demanding the two not speak again.)

Charles Colson is sentenced in the Ellsberg break in case. In his statement, he states that Nixon urged him to send out damaging information on Ellsberg.

The House committee hearings wrap up. They vote to make the evidence public prior to any impeachment vote.

The Wall Street Journal publishes a story quoting Mark Felt assuring them he is not Deep Throat. He tells them he believes Deep Throat is a composite of multiple sources.

The LA Times reports Chairman Rodino expects all 21 Democrats and possibly up to 6 Republicans to vote for impeachment. (The remarks were made to several reporters during lunch the day before, but Rodino had not expected them to be printed.)

The House committee questions their first witness: Alexander Butterfield.

Charles Colson reports to prison in Alabama facing a one to three year sentence.

Behind closed doors, the Supreme Court justices unanimously rule against Nixon, but it will be two weeks before the opinion is made public.

The House Judiciary Committee releases its evidence detailing the deeds of Nixon and his men.

St. Clair tells the House Judiciary Committee the President did not ask the CIA to intervene in the FBI’s investigation of Watergate saying Nixon had no prior knowledge of an alleged plot to obstruct the FBI. Around this same time, the House Judiciary committee notices that a meeting of senior level advisors to the President met on June 20, 1972, then Ehrlichman went in to see Nixon right afterwards. As this was Nixon’s first day in the White House since the break in, they find it highly unlikely the two men didn’t talk about it. Yet both Ehrlichman and Nixon claim they’d never talked about Watergate.

John Doar presents his strongest argument during a hearing where he lays out damning detail after detail about the President’s widespread illegal activity. His arguments are seen as persuasive by some and as sloppy by others.

Nixon calls Governor George Wallace hoping he can persuade others on impeachment, but Wallace says such action would be inappropriate. Nixon tells Haig, “Well, Al, there goes the presidency.”

Buzhardt reviews the tape from June 23 and hears the President and Haldeman decide to tell the FBI to back off on Watergate. The tape undercuts the President’s assertion that he was unaware of the coverup until the Dean conversation the following March. There is also no mention of anything related to national security which Nixon had also been using as an excuse to avoid releasing certain tapes. Buzhardt believes the tape is the fatal blow to Nixon’s presidency.

After hearing Nixon’s objections to the severity of the June 23 conversation, Haig and St. Clair tell Nixon any defiance of the Court’s decision will result in impeachment. Nixon demands St. Clair get more time for him to personally review the tapes before turning anything over, but St. Clair is not optimistic. At a press conference, St. Clair announces the President will comply with the ruling.

The House Judiciary Committee begins writing Article One of impeachment. Several members on both sides of the aisle voice their concern for the President’s conduct.

Nixon delivers a speech on the economy that is roundly ridiculed.

Gergen recommends the President request an immediate vote on impeachment, which they expect to lose, but it will give them a trial in the Senate where they could attack the evidence. He suggests the move will give the President momentum before the trial. Others are concerned that since they can’t be sure of what is on the tapes, they aren’t sure of the best course of action. They decide Pat Buchanan was the best choice to listen to the tapes and make a decision.

Haig appears on 60 Minutes saying he believes the President will prevail in the full House. Mike Wallace presses him on the option to resign, and Haig says it will only happen if the President deems it in the best interest of the American people.

Haig confronts Gergen about the Post stories. Gergen admits to speaking with reporters and believes trying to remain positive feels futile in the current situation. Haig admits he believes the President is guilty.

Nixon continues listening the tapes throughout the day and night.

Nixon tells Buzhardt he believes two other conversations on June 23 make the case for national security. Buzhardt listens as Haldeman and Nixon continue to build the cover story as to why the FBI should not go further into its Watergate investigation. Buzhardt tells Nixon the conversations actually make the situation even worse. Later Buzhardt meets with St. Clair and explains the significance of the conversations and how they directly contradict St. Clair’s words to the committee. St. Clair understands the President had lied.

Buzhardt and St. Clair agree the President will need to resign and they take their assessment to Haig. Haig agrees, but says he doesn’t believe that will happen. He agrees to let them make their case to Nixon, but the President refuses to see them saying he already knows they want him to resign.

Haig assembles the White House staff to begin coming up with rebuttals for each of the articles, but makes no mention of the June 23 tape.