Watergate Scandal

Richard Nixon’s highly entertaining and eventful life was headlined by one early morning at the Watergate office complex in 1972 and the two years that seemingly followed with controversy.  On June 17, 1972 five men were ordered to break into the Democratic National Committee offices to plant licensing as well as possibly attempt to plant false incriminating evidence and maybe more.  The White House Press Secretary Ron Zieglar released a statement saying it was a “third-rate burglary” and nearly the entire United States accepted it.  If anyone took a closer look at this it was certainly no “third-rate burglary” and was certainly something more. First off these men had sequential $100 bills summing a total near $2,300, as well lock picks, door jimmies, and a shortwave receiver for police calls.  Finally, In my opinion the most interesting part of the equipment was the two cameras and forty rolls of unexposed film.  This was a small assignment with a few listening devices, the Republicans wanted to know everything about the Democrats.  They were certainly scared and something was not right about this being a “third-rate burglary.”

 

One of many Nixon's campaign memorabilia

Scandal always seems to breed tremendous reporting.  It may be because everyone involved in the scandal is trying to cover it up or that a scandal often runs deep and wide.  Regardless, there is no difference here with the birth of “Woodstien.” This cunning duo made up of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, from the Washington Post, uncovered the Watergate Scandal.  Even though the facts were hidden and there was barely anyone that was willing to talk to them.  The “Dynamic Duo,” referred to as by Newsweek, never let up and dug deep to reveal the Oval Offices truths.   

Like many great news stories they do not break all on one day.  Newspapers will run series of articles that relate to each other.  As the evidence was revealed the “Dynamic Duo” would do there investigative work and then repaint the image for the public through print.  The difficult part was that there were no images or footage to show beside press releases by the White House. Most of the Watergate scandal was behind closed doors and hidden from eyes. This is the main reason that Television stations did not get involved in this story.  Woodward and Bernstein made a critical error during their reporting and certainly paid for it.  They were pushing the limit and very often the law to get information and confirm it.  At one point in the process they made a critical error and wrote a fact about a grand jury testimony that was not submitted.  Before this mistake the two of them found it incredibly difficult to talk anything from anyone about the scandal and it just got even harder.  Also those papers that supported the Presidency finally had a legitimate shot to take at the Post.   

Carl Bernstein (left) and Bob Woodward (Right)

It must be mentioned that the Washington Post with Woodward and Bernstein were alone in this story until the evidence was overwhelming.  The other papers did not only refuse to investigate Watergate, they also would slander the Post and the duo any chance they got.  The other papers in America were scared to push the envelope and preferred the easier side of the fence.  They were also feeling it from the White House and President Richard Nixon.  Nixon could not handle someone attacking him without responding.  Very much like the rest of his presidency he stepped over of his boundary and misused his power for his personal benefit without thought of consequences.  Nixon wanted to shut down a couple of Florida television stations that the Post owned.  He was successful in the shutdown but so was the “dynamic duo” in taking down the President.  

 

Investigative reporting can be grueling but it is for a purpose greater than the reporter or story.  The reporter’s goal is to bring justice to a situation.  All the investigative reporting in the world cannot do anything for justice without the help of the other three estates.  The story is all hearsay and speculation until the government actually acts on it.  We live in a society now of scared people.  For a very long time there was no one that wanted to speak out against the government.  With corporate advertising dollars backing the large news networks we do not have one that is willing to step up and confront the big businesses.  There is scandal and cover up all over the so called “Too Big to Fail” corporations in America.  The only difference is the cover up now is done nationwide by so many people.  Who will be the next investigative reporter to uncover this and how will they get it to America?    

Attribution:

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