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

Illegal fundraising (McD) - accepted >60 mil.

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

Infamy of Republican Party + Imperial Presidency

Nixon's taping system and secrecy = voters and congress wanted "regular guy"

Credibility Gap

Presidential office degraded in media

Hated Ford's pardon of Nixon

Saturday night massacre = Nixon's approval fell to 17%

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)