Nixon meta-biographer Rick Perlstein passes on word ...

Nixon did it "governmentally" within months of ascending to office, tapping reporters and NSC staffers suspected of being involved in leaks on the Cambodia bombing. 

Indeed, I'd figure the cointelpro operation would likely figure into the mix as well. But as I told Rick, for me this was a case where the larger comedic impact and Stonian effrontery trumped the broader issue of massive factual inaccuracy.