Nixon wiretaps
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In the United States, the Nixon wiretaps were the wiretapping of the phones of 17 journalists and federal government employees suspected of leaking information during the Nixon administration. The wiretaps were active between May 1969 and February 1971.[1] National Security Council staff member Alexander Haig selected many of the targets and received the results of many of the wiretaps.[1] The motivation for the wiretap program was concern from National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger about leaks of classified information.[2]
The motivation for the wiretap program was concern from National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger about leaks of classified information.[2] Some of the classified information leaked included the Cambodia campaign (a secret bombing campaign against Cambodia during the Vietnam War), and internal discussions about how forcefully to respond to the 1969 EC-121 shootdown incident (where North Korea shot down an American spy plane).[3]
After the creation of the program, the Nixon administration found the wiretaps useful for gathering political intelligence.[4]
Creation
On April 29, 1969, a meeting between Kissinger, Nixon, Attorney General John N. Mitchell, and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation J. Edgar Hoover resulted in a decision to use national security wiretaps.[2][4] Hoover wrote the appropriate requests and sent them to Mitchell.[2] During a congressional hearing, Kissinger initially denied involvement but then later admitted involvement, and Mitchell denied involvement but his initials on the paperwork were confirmed by a laboratory to be authentic.[2] FBI domestic intelligence official William C. Sullivan was also involved, and Kissinger's aide Alexander Haig would go to Sullivan's office to read the wiretaps.[3]