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Nixon and the Watergate Affair (Infamy of Republican Party + Imperial…
Nixon and the Watergate Affair
Why Watergate undermined public trust
CREEP used dirty tricks more than usual rough and tumble of American elections - wiretapping, discrediting candidates
Obstruction of justice
Nixon + Haldeman tried to use CIA to block FBI
430 000 paid to burglars to keep quiet
Abuse of executive powers
Numerous illegal acts at once
Illegal fundraising (McD) - accepted >60 mil.
Infamy of Republican Party + Imperial Presidency
Nixon's taping system and secrecy = voters and congress wanted "regular guy"
Credibility Gap
Hated Ford's pardon of Nixon
Saturday night massacre = Nixon's approval fell to 17%
Presidential office degraded in media
Failure in 1974 congressional elections
Impact on Checks and Balances
Forced to app't special prosecutor
Media tried best to uncover more scandals
SC + Congress could hold president to account
New legislation
Budget and Impoundment Act (1974)
Ethics in Gov. Act (1978)