Claim OwnershipBag Man
Subscribed: 282,155Played: 1,598,602
Subscribe
© Copyright 2019 NBC News
Description
Is it possible for an American Vice President to carry out a criminal enterprise inside the White House and have nobody remember? To have one of the most brazen political bribery scandals in American history play out before the country while nobody’s paying attention? In her first original podcast, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow goes back 45 years to dig into a story that got overshadowed in its day. There’s intrigue. Corruption. Envelopes of cash delivered to the White House. It’s a story that’s not well known, but it probably should be. Especially today. Bag Man. A Rachel Maddow podcast from MSNBC. Listen to the Peabody Award-nominated series now.
8 Episodes
Reverse
3Check out a sneak preview of Bag Man, Rachel Maddow’s first original podcast. First 2 episodes drop October 30th. Subscribe now.
He was brash. Politically incorrect. An “outsider” political candidate who rose to the White House, out of nowhere, with a reputation as a “counter-puncher.” But Vice President Spiro Agnew was also something else… an active criminal whose secrets were about to be exposed. What happens when a “counter-puncher” in the White House suddenly sees his political future directly threatened by investigators inside his own Justice Department?
With the Watergate scandal gripping the nation, and President Richard Nixon on the verge of going down, a small team of federal prosecutors in Baltimore discover a bombshell that will rock a nation already on the edge. The Vice President of the United States— right at the height of Watergate—has been conducting a secret bribery and extortion operation… from inside the White House itself. And only they know it.
With the criminal investigation of him now public, Vice President Spiro Agnew launches a bold counter-attack to survive. An unprecedented assault... on his own Justice Department that's investigating him. And the reporters now covering his case. And Agnew gets back-up in that effort from his legion of hardcore supporters across the country and in Congress.
After learning that his own Justice Department is investigating his crimes, Vice President Spiro Agnew embarks on a secret, behind-the-scenes effort... to obstruct justice. To use his power inside the White House to interfere with the investigation and shut it down. It’s a scheme that involves President Nixon himself, members of Nixon's inner circle, and it has never been known to the prosecutors investigating the case... even now, 45 years later.
With his own Justice Department on the verge of indicting him, Vice President Spiro Agnew attempts a last-ditch effort to survive. A Constitutional crisis-inducing argument that even if prosecutors have evidence of his crimes, he can't be indicted anyway... the power of the White House protects him. With President Nixon himself about to go down in Watergate, it's now on one man's shoulders-- the Attorney General-- to come up with a way to remove a criminal Vice President... before he ascends to the Presidency.
A secret murder plot directed by the President? A fear of political assassination by the CIA. Facing the prospect of becoming the first Vice President in American history to resign in disgrace... Spiro T. Agnew tries to set the stage for his own exit from office. With wild claims of death threats that forced him out. Surprise revelations of what Agnew was doing with all of his money. And a suspense-filled final day that leaves the sitting Vice President... a convicted felon.
Disgraced Vice President Spiro T. Agnew officially becomes a private citizen and addresses the nation one last time... as a convicted criminal. Agnew continues his attacks on the press and the prosecutors right to the end. But his sudden resignation leaves questions-- unanswered-- that echo 45 years later. Can a President or Vice President actually be criminally indicted while in office? And if not, what sort of pressure can be brought to bear... to force them out?
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
The first time I listened to this story was when it was first put out, it was intriguing, but today it is so real, OMG! Thank you Rachel!
1973 my year of birth and all the many trickles of these historical events and info are now coming into few, WOW!!! And it is seems like we are reliving this event again! Nothing new under the sun!
We have been putting up with Trump over a memo. Not a law. Looking forward to Maddow's next investigation on: Pence McConnell Trump
what happened to this series? it was going well.
An amazing, exciting story. Horrifying but well told. Relevant to today!
Hey Rachel, now do one on Biden! There is actual video proof there...video and confession! Extortion = Ukraine!!!!!
I don't know why Rachel maddow show podcast is in my selection because she's a very biased lying media participant. I don't like her at all. maybe if she reported on real news instead of her own personal narrative I might listen to something from her. is there any way to remove this from my feed because I don't want it here
why is this silly woman calling him vice president Agnew? he is Spiro criminal disgraced and caught Agnew
your comments are quit rude. not worth reading
interesting
Now do one on the Clinton foundation. Kick backs and money laundering, but I haven’t seen any prison time!
Clinton foundation!
This all stinks of the Clinton Foundation!
This had the Clinton foundation all over this podcast
Idiot, the point of the podcast is to sway and indoctrinate towards a specific belief and apply it to a modern agenda. get a brain, learn to use it, it would do you some good!
Moron, you made nothing but assumptions on one simple remark! Then followed it up with an insult. I don’t believe I said I anything that supported Spiro! But if you want to bring up trash, lets start with Clinton money laundering, ties to drug running, or email servers undermining national security. Then we can talk about the Bush’s war to steal oil and put foreign countries under U.S.treasury debt. Dumb idiot, republican or liberal can’t take away your stupidity! As you can see, Im not biased. You should try critical thinking...oh, dinosaurs weren’t taught that back then..sry.
This reminds me of the Clintons corruption.
Did anyone else get goosebumps when she said Rod Rosenstein?
I was going into the ninth grade and I remember the Chicago SunTimes headlines of the day. I was too young to truly understand what it all meant but I knew it was important. After 45 years, children and grandchildren, I get it, many episodes caused me to pinpoint the times. Back then, we didn't have a Rachel to explain things.
RACHEL! This Podcast series was awesome! I love your way of telling the story. What's next? I will be here ready to listen! Keep going my friend...keep going. 🙂