Unknown Story
Storyboard Text
- "You must rule over the tape recordings".
- President Nixon initially refused to release the tapes, putting two reasons forward: first, that the Constitutional principle of executive privilege extends to the tapes and citing the separation of powers and checks and balances within the Constitution, and second, claiming they were vital to national security.
- "I will not rule over them, they are my evidence to show how "executive power" means they have to share their information with other governments.
- The Court granted that there was a limited executive privilege in areas of military or diplomatic affairs, but gave preference to "the fundamental demands of due process of law in the fair administration of justice." Therefore, the president must obey the subpoena and produce the tapes and documents.
- The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Nixon must turn over the tapes. This rejected any form of "executive privilege." President Nixon resigned after Congress started an impeachment process.
- Immediately after this Act was enacted, Richard Nixon filed a lawsuit in a federal district court claiming that the Act violated the principle of separation of powers, the principle of presidential privilege.
Over 30 Million Storyboards Created