The Watchdog Rule: Watergate

The Watchdog Rule: Watergate

The Watergate scandal involved Richard Nixon and other crucial government employees is known to be on the of the biggest political scandals in American history. This event started in 1971, and continued for nearly 3 and a half years until Nixon resigned from office in August of 1974. This scandal was one of the first events to be heavily followed by the media and created a new interest in journalism as a whole. This expresses one of the 8 speech theories: a check on governmental power. 

The Watergate scandal started in mid 1971 when pentagon papers were released revealing the US intentionally expanded Vietnam war efforts. This contrasted drastically to what the public supported or was being told by the government. Nixon and his associates, in response to this, panicked and formed a group to take action and help prevent more leaks. This was just the start of it all.

Nixon took a step further and started recording his political rivals in fear of them leaking more sensitive information to the people. Then, a plan was created to bug and steal information from the democratic committee at the Watergate hotel. In June of 1972, 5 intruders were arrested. Nixon tried to block the FBI from investigating these break ins and denied all involvement in the issue. Then more clues started to arise. 

Once the media got involved, Nixon started to shake in his boots. A team of Washington Post journalists investigated the numerous leaks, and were instrumental in unraveling the truth behind the case. They were able to find information about the break in. The burglars and some others involved were indicted, yet Nixon was reelected still. 

The scandal exploded when many political figures were exploited by investigators and the media. The people closest to Nixon were exposed for being involved and official investigations began in 1973. After further connections were made linking Nixon to the scandal, the recording devices were revealed and then subpoenaed. In his famous speech he told the people, who already had begun to doubt his honesty, that he "was not a crook."

Finally, in July 1974, the Watergate tapes were released and it was exposed that people involved had received hush money to keep quiet. The media was able to prove and expose Nixon for having known about all of this information since its start. With nothing left to do, Nixon resigned from office. He was pardoned a month later for his actions by Gerald Ford. 

The theory "check on governmental power, also referred to as the watchdog rule, says that freedom of the press enables citizens to learn about abuses of power and then do something about the abuse at the ballot box if they feel so moved. According to this theory, we, along with the press, are part of the check-and-balance system to restrain governmental power and abuse of power. The Watergate scandal expresses the importance of this theory and further proves the medias role in exposing the truth to the people and keeping those on top in check. 

https://www.theweek.co.uk/73702/watergate-45-years-on-why-was-it-so-important

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHnmriyXYeg