WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — A newly revealed portion of Richard Nixon’s secret grand jury testimony is reshaping how historians view Watergate — and why claims about a powerful “deep state” still resonate today.
The seven pages, classified for decades and released only recently, show Nixon describing a covert campaign by senior military leaders who secretly spied on his White House during the Cold War. Nixon framed himself not only as a disgraced president but also as a victim of an internal government rebellion he could not fully control. The testimony has gained new attention because of its echoes in modern politics, especially comparisons between Nixon and President Donald Trump.
In June 1975, Nixon testified under oath before a federal grand jury near his home in California. President Gerald Ford had already pardoned him, but prosecutors still questioned him about Watergate and other abuses of power. During the testimony, Nixon warned prosecutors not to open what he called a “can of worms.” That warning referred to a secret Pentagon spying operation now known as the Moorer-Radford affair.
At the center of the episode was Charles Radford, a Navy yeoman assigned to the National Security Council. Acting under encouragement from senior admirals, Radford stole thousands of classified documents. He copied files, searched burn bags, and even rifled through briefcases belonging to top aides, including Henry Kissinger. Radford passed the material to the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Vietnam War. The documents included highly sensitive information about secret diplomacy, nuclear strategy, and Nixon’s opening to China.
Nixon told prosecutors the spying reached the highest levels of the Pentagon. He said the Joint Chiefs opposed his foreign policy, especially détente with China and the Soviet Union. He believed they feared reduced military power and budget cuts.
The spying came to light after leaks to columnist Jack Anderson exposed U.S. actions during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Investigators traced the leaks back to Radford. A polygraph test later showed deception, and Radford admitted stealing documents. Despite clear evidence, Nixon chose not to prosecute. He told the grand jury he feared a public trial would expose sensitive negotiations with China and prolong the Vietnam War.
“I had to make a decision,” Nixon testified. He said protecting national security outweighed enforcing the law.
Brent Scowcroft, then deputy national security adviser, ordered the most sensitive seven pages sealed. Even the rest of the grand jury did not see them. The testimony revealed that Nixon knew senior military leaders had acted against him. It also showed that he believed the threat came not from liberal bureaucrats but from conservative power centers inside the defense establishment. For decades, historians mentioned the affair only briefly. Most of the public never heard Nixon’s full account until now.
The release has renewed debate over claims about a “deep state” — a term used to describe unelected officials who allegedly resist elected leaders. Nixon’s account shows that internal sabotage did occur during his presidency. The Pentagon spying operation was real, illegal, and far-reaching. It targeted the president and his closest advisers during wartime. Supporters of former and current President Donald Trump point to Nixon’s experience as proof that entrenched bureaucracies can act independently of elected leaders.
The comparison also highlights key differences. Nixon hesitated to confront powerful institutions. He avoided prosecutions and chose secrecy over exposure. That restraint later left him politically isolated during Watergate.
Trump has taken a different path. Since returning to the office, he has openly purged officials he views as disloyal. He has framed such actions as necessary self-defense against internal enemies. Nixon believed he could manage the system. His testimony suggests he underestimated its reach.
