The Watergate scandal, a major political controversy during the presidency of Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974, was a result of the hostile political climate of the time. The United States was deeply divided due to the Vietnam War and Nixon’s reelection campaign. The arrest of five burglars at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) led to the right attribution of Nixon’s crimes to the Nixon administration. Nixon expanded his conspiracy theory, claiming that 16 people on the Bureau of Labor Statistics staff were registered Democrats, only one being a registered Republican.
On June 17, 1972, five men were caught attempting to bug the DNC’s offices in the Watergate, a residential/office complex in Foggy Bottom. The “why” behind the break-in was unclear, but the trial of the five arrested burglars and two accomplices began in federal court less than two weeks before Nixon’s second-term inauguration. The Watergate scandal was a major political controversy in the United States during Nixon’s presidency, ultimately resulting in the first and only American president to resign.
In 1974, three top Republican leaders in Congress paid a solemn visit to President Richard Nixon at the White House. Nixon was the first U.S. president ever to resign under threat of impeachment in the wake of the Watergate investigation. When Nixon’s perfidy was exposed, his party support crumbled, but with Trump, GOP leaders rallied around him.
📹 History vs. Richard Nixon – Alex Gendler
The president of the United States of America is often said to be one of the most powerful positions in the world. But of all the US …
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Nixon helped Pakistan to kill 3 million people in Bangladesh, even though the then US ambassador repetitively informed about the massacre . Nixon even sent the 7th fleet in December to assist Pakistan. His foreign policy is one of the worst all time. This guy never believed in peace. I find this History v. Nixon heavily biased. But then again, the whole series has a focus to talk against common ‘belief’, just in this case, those are, indeed, correct.
I’d like to see one of these on Henry Kissinger. I liked this one on Nixon. It was short, yet provided some interesting starting places for more reading. It represented both sides. It seemed unbiased. It puts his presidency in perspective when considering the character of our current president. It reminds us that he accomplished good things, but it doesn’t let him off the hook if only for the damage he did to the reputation of the office.
As a Democrat who voted for Dem candidates for President, I think President Nixon gets a bum deal in society but history will show him to be a good President. I would urge people who enjoy history to visit the Nixon Presidential Museum in Yorba Linda, Calif. Very professionally run and welcoming. Great staff. I’ve been there a few times and learned a lot.
EXCUSE ME? Allende’s communist attitudes were not in any way a good thing. The situation deteriorated greatly after Allende’s death, but he was a very bad leader who made poor decisions regarding socialism and his rule was unconstitutional because of his going against the Chilean congress. The situation was too complicated to just be glossed over as “he was democratically elected so he’s automatically good,” because he wasn’t even chosen by majority vote. There WAS no majority in the election in question, and he was essentially picked out of a hat. If there are any details I’m fuzzy on or have misrepresented, please let me know.
History vs John F Kennedy (a new, young leader who talked about change, world peace and space programs or an drug addicted hothead who nearly caused a global nuclear war?) History vs Ronald Reagan (the man who ended the Cold War or the man who created more victims of that same Cold War?) History vs Erwin Rommel (a dirty Nazi or just a really good general who served his country and in fact was anti-Hitler?) History vs Yasser Arafat (a terrorist or a freedom fighter?) History vs Malcolm X (someone who was just as racist as the racists he was fighting against or was his radicalism morally justified?) History vs Winston Churchill (an ultra-conservative hawk or an heroic leader in Europe’s darkest hour?) History vs Otto von Bismarck (a war mongerer or a national hero?) History vs Napoleon Bonaparte (an oppressor of many European nations or a enlighted despot who modernized Europe?) History vs Che Guevara (heroic rebel against tyranny or evil henchman of a tyrant (Castro), putting people in concentration camps?) History vs Charlemagne (an emperor who united Europe and had an interest in art and had built lots of schools or a tyrant who violently converted many ‘heathens’ to Christianity?) History vs Augustus (an emperor who started a golden age for the Roman Empire or an emperor who destroyed the Republic?)
Fun fact: LBJ did the exact same thing during the 1964 election against Barry Goldwater. If you hold Nixon accountable for Watergate (which you should), you must hold LBJ accountable as well. And if you believe Nixon’s state-sponsored coups we’re his worst doing, you better absolutely hate Kennedy (and most other modern presidents as well as most presidents post-Arthur, including Theodore Roosevelt. The thing that I find the most damning is his treason regarding LBJ’s peace talks, but once again, LBJ is at fault too. First of all, LBJ knew Nixon did this, but could not say anything about it because the reason he knew was because he illegally wire-tapped Nixon’s phone (LBJ had a thing for illegal wire-tapping). In addition, at first, LBJ played a big part in helping Nixon get elected as well as harming the peace talks. His VP, Humphrey, was running the peace talks on the American side, and since Humphrey was running against Nixon in 1968, it was in LBJ’s personal interest to prevent a peaceful outcome under his presidency, and we all know how the Vietnam War turned out. Finally, if you think the President should be punished for breaking the law, every President since Hoover should have went to jail.
Should Nixon be remembered for more than only his scandal? Yes. Should Nixon’s legacy be thoroughly defined by said monumental scandal? Also yes. We, as a society, are still dealing with an entire generation worth of people losing pretty much all faith in the basic honesty of our (representative) political system. While Nixon isn’t responsible for all of that by any stretch, he is the senior individual and most readily singled out as the primary character of that entire era and system.
“As soon as he learned of it he did everything to cover it up, while lying about it for months.” “But it was for the good of the country. He did so much during his time in the office.” Nope! This argument is unacceptable. “I decide what’s good for the country and I should be allowed to break the laws in order to remain in power, since I’m so useful” is not a defensible position. Everyone should be the subject to the laws and no one gets to simply suspend them since they find it useful.
No, sorry I couldn’t do it. The low, gravely voice of the narrator was just too much for me. I can’t will myself to watch this article. What bugs me especially is that I’ve watched and enjoyed other TED articles with the same narrator. It’s just in this one, for reasons I do not know, he decided to speak ten octaves lower than what he normally sounds like. Sorry, but I’m giving this article a pass.
Good articles. One can see both sides of the coin. One thing that was not mentioned was the fact that during his administration the process of abandoning the gold standard was completed. If we look at the modern financial system and learn how it really “works”, I think that Watergate was nothing compared to having completely broken the link of the US$ with a backing in gold. How come that was not such a scandal?
Honestly, it’s still under-acknowledging his achievements. And let’s not forget that LBJ lied about Vietnam in the first place to get troops over there, whereas Nixon ended the draft and then the war. He ensured racial stability, condemned pollution, communism, and drug addiction, and maintained the best relations with hostile nations of any President
You forgot that nixon opposed the independence of Bangladesh,my country and that a lot of US weapons were used in the war by Pakistanis,I get the point of them not liking soviets to “help liberate”a new country,but he praised Pakistanis oppressive moves and directly trying to stop the independence of Bangladesh.
Historians will never forgive Nixon for prolonging the war in Vietnam. They forgive JFK for starting Vietnam in 1961, and Johnson for keeping it going til 1969, but Nixon delivering on his promise late is unforgivable! I mean, this isn’t like Obama’s promise to close GITMO and leave Iraq (failed both for 8 years) or Bill Clinton’s promise to intervene in Bosnia being delayed two years. The lesson is forgiveness for foreign policy blunders is only for Democrats.
Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting Whatever Nixon’s positive accomplishments, the negative ones were alarmingly dangerous to his country and people. You know what I’d like to see? I’d like to see Stephen Harper put under this microscope. Something tells me the Canadian public would be pretty shocked at what it would reveal.
I don’t care what anyone says, Richard Nixon was an excellent president. created the EPA; ended the US in Vietnam and brought the troops home; enforced desegregation down south; moved towards peace with the USSR by signing the anti-ballistic missile treaty; presided over the moon landing; visited China/began diplomacy with China (eventually this would lead to the largest economic partnership ever known to man, US-China) It’s actually difficult to think of another president whose administration achieved so much. Naysayers will say it wasn’t Nixon it was other people around him… but you can say that about literally any president. Nixon led an executive branch that delivered major wins again and again and again. He honestly might be top 5 US presidents. Certainly Top 10.
Okay. First, President Nixon called the students bums 24 hours before the Kent State shooting; it seems you imply they were shot and then he called them bums. The reason why he called them bums is because they were burning books and destroying property causing unnecessary damage. Someone who burns books is not a student. He did not order the soldiers to shot, they shot because they were having rocks thrown at them. It was LBJ who wanting to help Hubert Humphrey in his campaign order a cease fire on Vietnam and tried to get a Peace Treaty a few weeks before the election because his man was falling behind Nixon in the polls. The law says to prove beyond a reasonable doubt not hearsay, and as far as I have researched, it was never proven that Nixon intervened in the peace talks before the election. You also try to question his achievements of the SALT treaty with the Russians and opening China; you question if that was good, well just look at how we are today, owing more than we pay to China and not getting along with Russia. By the way he ended the Vietnam Wat that JFK started and that he nor LBJ could end, yet you blame Nixon for it? Unbelievable!
Nixon was massively popular before Watergate, he was definitely a visionary in geopolitics and international relation at the time, ending the war, founding the EPA and reforming the education were some major progress too. He was capable and competitive, immoral and corrupt sure, but still a quite consequential president.
I like the way the article skirted over the one really dreadful crime Nixon can be said to be guilty of – bringing China into the modern world. He is often held up to be a great man for doing this and this article seems reluctant to examine the problems it has caused since. If he had left them alone, I think the world would have been a better place.
In a swirling vortex of time energy, Gizmo the Star Wizard twirled the dials on his magnificent Chronoship, destination: 1970s America. He emerged, not with a flourish, but with a slight cough, in a cloud of cigar smoke-laced air. His target: The White House, during the reign of Richard Nixon. Gizmo, with his usual pizzazz, materialized in the Oval Office, startling a flustered Nixon mid-sentence. After calming the bewildered president down with a wave of his hand and a dazzling smile, Gizmo launched into his query. “Mr. President,” Gizmo boomed, his voice echoing in the stately room, “I come from the future, and I’m curious about your stance on a particular plant – cannabis.” Nixon, ever the politician, narrowed his eyes. “Cannabis, eh? That hippy lettuce? Well, it’s a dangerous gateway drug, that’s what it is!” Gizmo chuckled, a sound like wind chimes tinkling in a summer breeze. With a snap of his fingers, a holographic image materialized in front of Nixon. It depicted a bustling cityscape, unlike anything Nixon had ever seen. Buildings gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, seemingly impervious to flames. People strolled by, radiating an air of health and vitality. “This, Mr. President,” Gizmo explained, “is a glimpse of the future – a future where cannabis wasn’t demonized.” He elaborated on the marvels this future held. Homes that shrugged off fire like a pesky fly. Cancer, relegated to the dustbins of history, thanks to the healing properties of cannabis. Revolutionary materials derived from hemp, leading to lighter, more efficient batteries and a world powered by clean, wireless energy.
I can imagine Nixon in the afterlife, being questioned about his inappropriate actions before a decision is made whether to allow him past the Pearly Gates. “Regrets? I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention. Hey! Did you ever see that photo of me with Elvis?” “Right this way, Mr. Nixon – your table is waiting!” 😸
How can you say “Allende” was a democratic President in Chile. It was a marxist dictatorship. Pinochet, the militar government saved the country from being like Cuba. When you See this Kind of lies, you immediatelly have to know the content of the article has an Position adopted. (In this case, left wing). I am not talking about Nixon, its just i cant stand this Kind of manipulations.
For Vietnamese ppl, Nixon did sell South Vietnam to China in order to ‘demonstrate’ collaboration. When China attacked South Vietnamese troops on Paracel Islands in 1974, US Force dis nothing but keeping silent even South VN did ask for help. And when South VN army decided to counter attack against Chinese troops without US support, CIA asked them to ‘stand down’ and ‘negotiate’ by ‘diplomacy’ meanings =)))) But the US gov already knew South VN would not exist for longer. So by the way of ‘diplomacy’, we Vietnamese know for sure none of that such thing would happen =)))))) Even now when an international judge declare China was violating the international laws (when Philippines accused them), so what ? Does that change anything when Chinese troops still stay on those islands (unless South VN could attack them in the past). Whose fault ?
At that time, South Korean President Park Chung-hee informed that Vice President Agnew would withdraw 20,000 U.S. troops from South Korea. After Vice President Agnew got on the plane, he completely withdrew 20,000 U.S. troops from South Korea and started nuclear development by secretly avoiding the U.S. because he thought he could not trust the U.S. after that. President Park Chung-hee’s idea at the time was that North Korea, its allies, the Soviet Union, and China were allies, so he tried hard to develop nuclear weapons and missiles with self-defense by all means.
The Democrats had majorities in both the House and Senate throughout Nixon’s presidency. A lot of his Progressive “accomplishments” were really just things that were forced on him by Congress. Nixon was adamantly opposed to many of these policies, but the Democrats had enough votes that it didn’t matter. To give Nixon credit for these accomplishments is a shallow and lazy analysis. Also Nixon’s healthcare plan was a private enterprise plan that, in Nixon’s own words, was designed for the purpose of providing LESS healthcare.
I remain supporting Nixon. Time will show he was no worse than GW Bush, Trump, Biden. His accomplishments far succeeded for the betterment of our nation than his failures. The north Vietnamese prolonged the war. Nixon tried his best to defeat communism and on the long run, he kept the reds from taking over several SE Asian and Latin nations. As a Vietnam veteran I salute Nixon.
History eventually eliminates all doubt and controversy, and the fact of the matter becomes accepted almost universally. Richard Nixon had sky-high approval ratings just a few months before this scandal broke, and now he’s remembered like this. The truth of the matter will win out. Maybe not in a day, a week, a month, or even years, but truth will win out eventually.
Nixon was no hero for the environment. He actually hated environmentalists, but he knew that popular opinion of the time was so overwhelmingly pro-environmentalist that putting up any meaningful opposition would have been political suicide. The creation of the EPA didn’t really improve anything, it just took a number of roles previously distributed throughout government and consolidated them into the responsibility of a single administrator who could be easily controlled.
This article leaves a lot of defenses unspoken. Nixon was not the crook he is believed to be. He was covering up the watergate incident because he was trying to protect people that he actually cared about. They were over zealous loyalists trying to help their boss. They got caught and Nixon found out after the fact then tried to cover it up for their sake. Then it just spiraled out of control. Is it right to cover it up even if it’s for others? No not really. But, he’s not quite the villain he’s made out to be.