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phylny

(8,353 posts)
Fri Aug 31, 2018, 11:26 PM Aug 2018

Historical question about Watergate, the FBI, the CIA, and Department of Justice.

Do I have it right that the FBI, CIA and/or the Department of Justice were implicated in the coverup of the scandal or in not properly investigating it? If so, how did the agencies recover and become reputable again? Thanks in advance!

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Historical question about Watergate, the FBI, the CIA, and Department of Justice. (Original Post) phylny Aug 2018 OP
What scandal? nt joet67 Aug 2018 #1
Let me try again. phylny Aug 2018 #2
Much better. What little you posted before had no context. joet67 Sep 2018 #11
That's funny. I got it both times. Control-Z Sep 2018 #12
Thanks, I felt like I was pretty clear using phylny Sep 2018 #14
I was a simple burglary uncovered by a security guard, Frank Wills, after he received a tip Brother Buzz Aug 2018 #3
Thanks, yes I knew that. phylny Aug 2018 #4
Nixon ordered Haldeman to have the CIA block the FBI's investigation The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2018 #9
Thank you! phylny Sep 2018 #10
You know that the #2 guy at the FBI was "deep throat" and giving information.... PoliticAverse Aug 2018 #5
Yes, Mark Felt, thanks, I do know. phylny Aug 2018 #6
A couple references pat_k Aug 2018 #7
THANK YOU! phylny Aug 2018 #8
I can't recall it but there is a PBS documentary on Watergate, for sure, and one that ... SWBTATTReg Sep 2018 #13
Atty Gen Mitchell went to jail DeminPennswoods Sep 2018 #15

phylny

(8,353 posts)
2. Let me try again.
Fri Aug 31, 2018, 11:39 PM
Aug 2018

Were the FBI, CIA, Department of Justice complicit in covering up campaign violations, including the break in of the Democratic National Committee's office?

Here, scandal used in Wikipedia. Perhaps that's not the right word?

"The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States during the early 1970s, following a break-in by five men at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972, and President Richard Nixon's administration's subsequent attempt to cover up its involvement."

My question: Were those entities involved in covering up the Nixon Administration's involvement, and if so, how did those agencies recover its reputations.

Control-Z

(15,681 posts)
12. That's funny. I got it both times.
Sat Sep 1, 2018, 12:21 AM
Sep 2018

And often enough I'm the DUer left scratching her head and saying "huh".

phylny

(8,353 posts)
14. Thanks, I felt like I was pretty clear using
Sat Sep 1, 2018, 11:30 AM
Sep 2018

“Watergate” in the subject and figured the scandal was pretty obvious

Brother Buzz

(36,214 posts)
3. I was a simple burglary uncovered by a security guard, Frank Wills, after he received a tip
Fri Aug 31, 2018, 11:40 PM
Aug 2018

The Watergate scandal began early in the morning of June 17, 1972, when several burglars were arrested in the office of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate complex of buildings in Washington, D.C. This was no ordinary robbery: The prowlers were connected to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign, and they had been caught wiretapping phones and stealing documents. Nixon took aggressive steps to cover up the crime afterwards, and in August 1974, after his role in the conspiracy was revealed, Nixon resigned.

phylny

(8,353 posts)
4. Thanks, yes I knew that.
Fri Aug 31, 2018, 11:42 PM
Aug 2018

See my question above as to the involvement of other agencies or lack of involvement in the coverup. Thank you for taking time to respond.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,277 posts)
9. Nixon ordered Haldeman to have the CIA block the FBI's investigation
Fri Aug 31, 2018, 11:59 PM
Aug 2018

of where the money to fund the burglary came from. However, the CIA reported to the FBI that there were no national security issues and they didn't get involved.

pat_k

(9,313 posts)
7. A couple references
Fri Aug 31, 2018, 11:53 PM
Aug 2018

Last edited Sat Sep 1, 2018, 03:06 AM - Edit history (3)

Some background

At a Scheme’s Inception and Destruction, the F.B.I.
https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/06/13/did-any-good-come-of-watergate/at-a-schemes-inception-and-destruction-the-fbi

Way back when, Congress actually took action.

How Watergate Changed America's Intelligence Laws
https://www.history.com/news/how-watergate-changed-americas-intelligence-laws

In the wake of the findings of the Church Committee, Congress created permanent intelligence oversight committees in both the Senate and House. They also proposed the creation of the Foreign Service Intelligence Act. The bipartisan bill, which passed the House 246-128 and the Senate 95-1, was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on October 25, 1978.


How did they recover? By implementing new oversight. Just as regulation in the wake of Enron (since dismantled) sought to remedy the loss of confidence, new oversight sought to remedy loss of confidence in the intelligence services.

Reforms weren't limited to intelligence services. In the wake of Watergate, there was a raft of other legislation that sought to create a "new era of ethics in government."

On edit, added list of key post-Watergate legislation.
Limitations of War Powers Act, 1974
Federal Election Campaign Act, 1974
Freedom of Information Act, 1974
The Private Act, 1974
Ethics in Government, 1978 (including the Independent Counsel Act)
Foreign Service Intelligence Act, 1978




SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
13. I can't recall it but there is a PBS documentary on Watergate, for sure, and one that ...
Sat Sep 1, 2018, 01:13 AM
Sep 2018

was a show on regular tv broadcasting. I apologize for not having the details on the shows themselves ... they were both very detailed and kind of walked in detail the whole mess...there was so much going on as well as the Vietnam War so tons of newspaper clips etc. available via lots of old publications you can probably google/etc.

Have fun!

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
15. Atty Gen Mitchell went to jail
Sat Sep 1, 2018, 11:36 AM
Sep 2018

Other than that, DoJ was not involved in the subsequent cover up. Bork did fire Cox, but, either Jill Wine-Banks or Nick Ackerman, both on the special prosecutor's staff, have said a couple of times that DoJ had gamed out the firing and agreed that the AG and deputy AG would both resign and Bork, then the solicitor general, would carry out the firing. I had never heard this before, but they are very credible sources.

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