Nixon Proposed Sham Vandalism
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Two weeks after the 1972 Watergate break-in, President Nixon suggested making a “shambles” of the GOP headquarters and blaming it on Democrats, the San Francisco Examiner reported. Nixon, who made the suggestions to chief political aide Charles W. Colson, suggested that the vandalism take place during the Democratic convention. The July 1, 1972, conversation was captured on more than 200 hours of tapes released by the National Archives in November. There were no reports that the Republican headquarters were vandalized.
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