I was born in 1969 so I don't remember Watergate

[rbrnmw]

When did the general public turn on Nixon? Was it quick? Were people more aware of it sooner rather than later? With the bubbles people live in now is there any hope for a quick resolution of this worse than Watergate mess?

[uponit7771]

1. Right, those aware of this at this time please hook GenX up so we have a historical reference !!!

[Zoonart]

2. Not Quick

It took a long time to bring him down. IMHO what is happening now is 100 times worse than Watergate.

[CanonRay]

22. Exactly right

It was the news coverage of Watergate, day after day after day bringing new revelations, plus even the GOP (mostly) was on board to do something.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Many people hated Nixon from the beginning... but the general public turned after the tapes....

(the final ones) were released by order of the Supreme Court - the only thing being argued after that was whether Nixon should do jail time or not.

[LisaM]

4. It did drag on. The hearings were on television for what seemed like forever.

The difference, of course, is that the networks paid attention to it and covered it. Now the "news" is just a steady stream of crime news and infotainment. Would that we had Huntley, Brinkley, and Cronkite back.

[world wide wally]

10. If they had similar hearings now, they wouldn't even show them. They would just have

one surrogate after another on explaining their talking points.

[guillaumeb]

5. The media actually reported on issues at that time.

It was extensively covered. Unlike the corporate media of today which focused on such important issues such as Benghazi and trustworthiness rather than examine what Trump was actually saying and doing.

[haele]

6. General public was turning on Nixon before Watergate.

He was too Conservative for the Liberals, and too Liberal for the Conservatives. And there were questions as to his integrity and governing wisdom. Also, there were international monetary policies that were in the process of being changed, so many local economies was starting to sputter as the U.S. was trying to influence the shape of Globalization into a more Neo-Liberal friendly entity.

He hadn't pulled us out of Vietnam as implied. The Kent State shootings and other crackdowns might have appeased the Hawks and Birchers, but some of his other policies - the EPA, HMOs, etc... were too liberal for them (even though they didn't come close to Johnson's policies). The disastrous mistake of running with Spiro Agnew didn't help either. And he was getting noticeably paranoid in public, even if he did try and lighten things up by showing up on Laugh In.

Sock it To Me? Indeed.

Haele

[femmocrat]

7. I remember the election, 1972.

That was the first year I was eligible to vote. There were news items out there (before the election) about Watergate, but no one listened. It was a lot like now.... people knew about all of drumpf's illegal activities, but chose to ignore them. Tricky Dick won by a huge landslide against anti-war candidate McGovern.

I don't think the general public really turned against Nixon until the hearings were on TV all day. It was a series of revelations; it didn't all come out at once.

I expect drumpf voters will give him the benefit of the doubt until the evidence is pushed smack into their faces. Plus, the repukes will circle the wagons unlike the more moderate republicans of 1973.

[tinrobot]

8. The public didn't all turn at once.

It was a slow realization. Liberals didn't need to be "turned", but the rest of the country took a while to believe such a thing could happen. I think it turned most quickly in the summer of '74 when top White House official were indicted and the "Smoking Gun Tape" was released. That pretty much sealed it.

There was also a Democratic majority, so the hearings and subsequent impeachment happened a lot easier. I don't think this current Congress would let such things happen.

Besides, if the "Grab 'em by the ***** " tape didn't seal his fate, I'm not sure what will. I don't think Russian interference will be enough. I suspect it will have to be much more severe and nation-threatening.

[Autumn]

30. He was never impeached, he resigned first. At that time though we actually had a media

that reported on things and the actual hearings were televised.

[tinrobot]

40. Sorry... articles of impeachment.

The committee passed three articles of impeachment. They were sent to House for debate and a vote.

The smoking gun tapes were released a week after that, support cratered, and Nixon resigned before the House voted.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. I remember Watergate very well.

Nixon won the 1972 election by a landslide, but his popularity started cratering not too long afterwards. Some of that probably had to do with Vietnam, but after the hearings started and especially after the Saturday Night Massacre he just kept sliding and never recovered. The Watergate hearings were televised and everybody was watching them; then, when the secret tapes were discovered and partially released, more people started thinking he ought to be impeached. There's a pretty good description of how people were reacting as the scandal progressed, here: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/08/08/how-the-watergate-crisis-eroded-public-support-for-richard-nixon/

Nixon began his second term with a 68% approval rating. Trump's is currently 43%, so he's already about where Nixon was after the Watergate hearings started. Whether there can be a "quick resolution" depends, I think, on whether and when the GOP figures out that he's an albatross around their neck and they need to ditch him before he brings the whole party down. They used his coattails to gain seats in Congress but if he keeps acting like a lunatic they will have to do something about him. Hard to say whether or when that will happen.

[Chasstev365]

11. When the Nixon tapes became public knowledge, it was a turning point

I distinctly remember being a 9 year old kid playing outside at dusk on a hot August night and running in to see Nixon's resignation speech because we knew it was historic.

[J_William_Ryan]

12. Most Americans ignored

the Post’s reporting, or were otherwise indifferent – not unlike today.

The Watergate burglary occurred in June of 1972; it wasn’t until May of 1973 when Senate hearings began.

[Binkie The Clown]

13. It's just mind-boggling to think someone born is 1969 is all grown up already!

But then again, my youngest daughter was born is 1969 and she's all grown up now. Still, it boggles my mind.

[Tanuki]

14. At the very beginning a lot of people dismissed it as some

penny ante break in of an office. The country was very divided over the Viet Nam war, which was what people were most upset about. I don't think anyone expected Watergate to result in an impeachment when the story first broke, but the more it was investigated, the worse it became. As some said at the time, "It's not the crime, it's the cover-up." It took about two years from the time the incident occurred to Nixon's resignation in the face of near-certsin impeachment. Although the country was divided politically, we did not have the hyperpartisanship that we have how, and Republicans on the investigating committee (e.g. Howard Baker) seemed truly dedicated to discovering the truth and upholding the Constitution. But I still think that over time, as Trump's corruption becomes more apparent, he will become a liability to the GOP and the tide will turn.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. It took a very long time.

There was the reporting in the Washington Post. Reporting that no other newspaper was picking up for a very long time.

Eventually the Watergate hearings started, and a lot of people were extremely upset that their soap operas were being pre-empted. Then Alexander Butterfield, a former assistant to Nixon, was asked an almost throw-away question: was there any chance there was a taping system in the Oval Office. Yes, there was.

That led to the actual tapes being subpoenaed, and with them the clear proof that Nixon was totally involved in the cover-up of the break-in at the Watergate in 1972.

There were lots of people who thought that Nixon was totally railroaded. They're more or less the kind of people who today would have voted for Trump, because they really aren't that well informed. Or if they are, they prefer to believe their own fantasy world.

I was living in the DC area at the time, and the final two weeks before the resignation almost no one in the Federal Government was getting any work done. The atmosphere was one of dread and uncertainty.

[Gothmog]

16. It was a slow process and did not get started until well after the 1972 elections

It took a while for the process to build up and for people to come to the realization that Nixon was guilty. It sort came to a head when Nixon made his famous "I am not a crook" speech. By the time of that speech people had come to realize that Nixon was a crook and his denial fell on mostly deaf ears. The "I am not a crook" speech took place well over a year after the 1972 election

[northoftheborder]

17. When the tapes were uncovered....

I can't remember what was on television.....we didn't get good reception in the country.....(pre satellite)

But, a person in our household who had extremely poor eyesight, listened to free book and magazine records from the state library, including Time Magazine. So, we had LONG full coverage of all the magazine articles.... This person had voted for Nixon, but became disillusioned about that time. The fact that Democrats were in power made a lot of difference, but the Republicans in Congress were repulsed also. Our current Repubs have no conscience at all..... Anything for their party is A-OK.

[Warpy]

18. As usual, Watergate was only the symptom

People had gradually turned against the POS because he was such an unappealing character, plus his "secret plan to end the war" turned out to be a plan to make it drag on as long as possible. Watergate was a college boy's problem, the low information voters who'd put him in for a second term didn't care about that so much as they did inflation and seeing kids in their towns coming back in boxes with no end in sight. People just gradually got sick of Nixon and his lies but weren't ready to forgive Democrats for Civil Rights legislation in the 60s.

[AirmensMom]

19. My relatives never did.

They always said, "They're all crooks. Nixon just got caught." And I'd roll my eyes because it was no use even trying to say anything. I was a teenager.

Considering what the orange turd has already gotten away with, I will be surprised if there will ever be a resolution. You can say you told me so if I'm wrong. I am really disgusted and worried when I see just how corrupt our government has become. Where is the outrage from our representatives?

[Greybnk48]

20. We weren't lawless back then.

There was at least some accountability. Not like today. Edited to add: Not every politician was a millionaire like today, and they weren't campaigning 24-7/365, and no lobbyists that owned them.

[Zorro]

21. 1973 when Alexander Butterfield revealed that all Oval Office conversations were taped

It was an electrifying revelation.

[struggle4progress]

23. How Watergate eroded support for Nixon

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/08/08/how-the-watergate-crisis-eroded-public-support-for-richard-nixon/

[Historic NY]

26. +1

[mcar]

24. Read "All the President's Men"

An excellent look at real journalism and the whole scandal.

[McCamy Taylor]

25. The tapes. Trump is an idiot. His twitters are the equivalent of the tapes.

The tapes revealed Nixon to be a bore and a bully as well as a criminal. People with no interest in politics were disgusted by what they heard on the tapes.


Trump has jump started Watergate 2016 by at least 18 months by revealing that he is a bore and a bully and a criminal in his twitters. Now all we have to do is lay out the case against him.

Proof that those who do not understand politics should no meddle in politics.

[Historic NY]

29. Seal team 6 needs to administer an emema.....

'

[longship]

27. Saturday Night Massacre!

Last edited Fri Jan 6, 2017, 09:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Within the week the first discussions of impeachment took place in the House Judiciary Committee, which is precisely where such things are discussed.

The resignation of AG Elliot Richardson, and the firing of Deputy AG William Ruckelshaus took place on Oct. 20, 1973. Of course, Solicitor General Robert Bork was the one who did the dirty deed of firing Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. Bork said that he offered his resignation but was convinced that the DOJ in the hands of a low level staffer was not in the nation's interest.

When Bork was up for SCOTUS appointment, the public disagreed quite strongly with him. Frankly, I don't believe him.

I'll see if I can find coverage from that day.

Here's a short clip with the best coverage of that night, John Chancellor. This is the one I remember. Too bad that it isn't complete. But you'll get the idea how big this was:

Here's some more:

This is excellent documentary of this event, with all the principles interviewed. Yup, even Nixon.
John Chancellor provides an appropriate tag line in this video.

It was a bit over nine months after these events before Nixon would resign. In the meantime the stage was set. It was this single event that turned the tide.

[earthside]

32. That's when the die was cast.

I remember it very well.

The Saturday Night Massacre was indeed the moment when perhaps a majority of Americans knew that Nixon had to go.

Even after all these years when I think about this event I am shocked that a President of the United States of America could engage in such reckless, brazen, and corrupt behavior.

Thank goodness for Richardson and Ruckelshaus or we might have descended into third world coup d'etat territory.

[longship]

33. I've updated the videos on my post.

It includes part of a Watergate documentary, the part that focuses on the Saturday Night Massacre. It's really good stuff. Many of the principles are interviewed, including Richardson, Ruckulshaus, Bork, Nixon, Cox!!!, and Cox's deputy special prosecutor, Henry Ruth.

Highly recommended!

[meaculpa2016]

45. I was standing about 15 feet to John's left...

when he reported that story. I was a studio tech projecting the graphics you saw during the broadcast.

It was sobering and chilling and scary. Not Cuban Missile Crisis scary, but the feeling of uncertainty was definitely unnerving. Over the following months I made a lot of overtime.

John was a consummate journalist and a gentleman. We need more like him.

There were cocktail party/press release "journalists" back then, but there were also genuine reporters who would dig for every story wherever it led for however long it took. We don't have any of them now. They just take what is fed to them.

[longship]

46. That John Chancellor report sticks to the ribs.

I saw it live and cannot ever forget it.

His tag line is incredibly great journalism. (From memory.) "I never thought that I would be saying these things." (Or something like that; it's at the very end of the second video, the documentary.)

I posted this as its own thread.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028440610

[randr]

28. The morning after he fired the special prosecuter

At that very point it was clear to all that something was wrong. A nation gathered around the broadcast hearings hoping that our Constitution and laws would work and that all the members of the Watergate Commission would act honorably in the interest of our country.
They did, Nixon was found guilty, Nixon resigned in disgrace, and Americans cheered the result as it proved that our system works.

[radical noodle]

31. It took some time

It was a little over two years from the burglary to his resignation. Of course, the connections took some time to make and we really had a lot to digest. I think John Dean's testimony may have been the turning point in a lot of ambivalent minds. Nixon was actually preferable to Trump in my view. He at least didn't try to just trash the entire government.

[shraby]

34. It was a drip drip drip, stream, stream, waterfall.

[longship]

36. Here's a CBS Special on the Saturday Night Massacre. The Cox press conference which started it all.

Last edited Fri Jan 6, 2017, 11:11 PM - Edit history (1)

It's a bit over an hour long, so it ought to provide sufficient context.

Warning, it includes ads.

This is the Archibald Cox press conference which happened on the Friday before the Saturday Night Massacre when Cox was fired only after the Attorney General of the United States (Elliot Richardson) resigned and the Deputy Attorney General (William Ruckelshaus) was fired.

It is a one hour bit, but this is the interview which convinced Richard Nixon that Cox should be fired.

[rbrnmw]

37. you should make this an OP in Video & Multimedia

[longship]

39. Okay, but I will include my previous post on this very important historical event.

The Cox press conference was the last domino to fall. Nixon had to fire him to survive. However, Nixon was so clueless that he did not understand the consequences of such an action.

It took months, but this was what turned the public against him. This very event! The next day was the Saturday Night Massacre.

[longship]

42. I did that. The OP bombed.

Don't know why I bother, except that maybe some DUers will find it interesting and informative.

Maybe too many are still playing at the Nov 8 blame game warfare.

2016 Postmortem must DIE!!

[rbrnmw]

43. yes it seems that the blame game is still going strong

I can't believe people aren't more angry about all of this.

[longship]

44. I cannot believe that we are not united!

Kill 2016 Postmortem and reinstate "do not refight the primary".

[Hamlette]

38. Watch All the President's Men with an eye to how WashPost was only paper reporting it

I was in a dorm in Denmark the summer he resigned and with my Dad at the airport in London the day before he resigned. I can't remember what the headline was in the British press that day but I asked my Dad "Ok, don't you think he should resign now" and he said yes. (My dad was one of those liberal Republicans. He left the GOP when Reagan was president and his admin started talking about "limited nuclear war". My dad worked in the defense industry and went bat shit crazy. He said he had been working on nuclear weapons (nuclear submarines) all his life because he believed it would deter war to have a strong defense but not if they started talking about limited nuclear wars. He because a very radical leftist.)

Oh, back to the dorm, I remember the students in Denmark knew more about the US government (they could name every cabinet member) and knew more about Watergate than most Americans. I remember thinking, when you rely on another country for defense, you ought to follow what they do. Of course, we should too!

So, I think the last few days you could feel it in the air. You knew it was happening. I got home soon enough to see Nixon resign. It was beautiful.

[Boomerproud]

41. Yes. I was at my best friend's house in early 1973 and a dinner guest from the night before

who happened to be an FBI agent (I never knew his name or status in the agency) had a conversation with my friends father about Watergate (pre-hearings). I can still remember my friend quoting the man with the words "This isn't only about the break-in-it's about protecting covert operations." He also spoke about a future president being controlled by banking and oil interests. Imagine my reaction 3 years later watching "All The President's Men" in theatres and Deep Throat saying those exact words to Bob Woodward.