George H. W. Bush

=== Chairman of the Republican National Committee ===
After Nixon won a landslide victory in the [[1972 United States presidential election|1972 presidential election]], he appointed Bush as chair of the [[Republican National Committee]] (RNC).{{sfn|Meacham|2015|pp=162–163}}<ref>{{cite web |title=President Richard Nixon and the Presidents |url=https://www.nixontapes.org/presidents.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409154628/https://www.nixontapes.org/presidents.html |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=nixontapes.org |quote=CDHW 156-016 11/29/1972 Unknown time between 10:10 am and 1:47 pm P, GHWB}}[https://www.nixontapes.org/ghwb/156-016.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211181759/https://www.nixontapes.org/ghwb/156-016.pdf|date=December 11, 2020}}</ref> In that position, he was charged with fundraising, candidate recruitment, and making appearances on behalf of the party in the media.

When Agnew was being investigated for corruption, Bush assisted, at the request of Nixon and Agnew, in pressuring [[John Glenn Beall Jr.]], the [[U.S. Senator from Maryland]], to force his brother, [[George Beall (attorney)|George Beall]] the [[U.S. Attorney]] in Maryland, to shut down the investigation into Agnew. Attorney Beall ignored the pressure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/msnbc/maddow-bag-man-podcast/transcript-episode-4-turn-it-n935286|title=Transcript - Episode 4: Turn It Off|date=November 13, 2018 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref>

During Bush's tenure at the RNC, the [[Watergate scandal]] emerged into public view; the scandal originated from the June 1972 break-in of the [[Democratic National Committee]] but also involved later efforts to cover up the break-in by Nixon and other members of the White House.{{sfn|Meacham|2015|pp=163–164}} Bush initially defended Nixon steadfastly, but as Nixon's complicity became clear he focused more on defending the Republican Party.<ref name="ea" />

Following the resignation of Vice President Agnew in 1973 for a scandal unrelated to Watergate, Bush was considered for the position of vice president, but the appointment instead went to [[Gerald Ford]].{{sfn|Meacham|2015|pp=166–167}} After the public release of an [[Nixon White House tapes|audio recording]] that confirmed that Nixon had plotted to use the CIA to cover up the Watergate break-in, Bush joined other party leaders in urging Nixon to resign.{{sfn|Meacham|2015|pp=170–173}} When Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Bush noted in his diary that "There was an aura of sadness, like somebody died... The [resignation] speech was vintage Nixon—a kick or two at the press—enormous strains. One couldn't help but look at the family and the whole thing and think of his accomplishments and then think of the shame... [President Gerald Ford's swearing-in offered] indeed a new spirit, a new lift."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060716/16bushonnixon_eye.htm |title=George HW on Nixon resignation |date=July 16, 2006 |access-date=March 29, 2008 |work=U.S. News & World Report |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624230333/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060716/16bushonnixon_eye.htm |archive-date=June 24, 2008}}</ref>