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We remember Watergate. But when you bring in this topic to try to compare against today's politics it ceases to become a history topic. Repeating the last sentence of the article: "But that bipartisanship didn’t exist when the Watergate committee began its work. In today’s hyperpartisan atmosphere, that is worth remembering."
And, unfortunetly, it's worth remembering that is one of the reasons why we can't discuss today's politics in this forum.
I lived through the experience of Watergate and what I remember most is the sense of escalating infuriation when President Nixon went on TV to present his latest set of lies. Nixon was such a terrible liar, completely transparent with his body language, and that made it worse, it was insulting that this man actually thought people would believe him.
The televised hearings in '73 were quite exciting, a bombshell a day sort of dynamic. Among my favorite moments was when Ehrlichman was testifying. At one point he tried to compare the money being funneled to the burglars to contributions to the Angela Davis defense fund. This sent Senator Ervin into a full spasm of bushy eyebrow fluttering and exasperated stammering. How dare Ehrlichman compare the people supporting an idealistic cause to the people who were paying criminals to keep quiet about the involvement of higher ups. Ehrlichman responded:
"I didn't donate a nickel Mr. Chairman."
I mostly recall the personalities involved in the hearings: Dean, Baker, Ervin, Haldeman, Butterfield, Colson, and others, as well as those on the edges like Woodward and Bernstein. This was nearly a Shakespearian drama. There was so much bipartisan revulsion and indignation on one side and pure abuse and arrogance on the other. We had already been through the Spiro Agnew resignation so the idea of Nixon's resignation wasn't far-fetched. The crime was bad enough but the cover-up was worse. Then all the dirty laundry tumbled out.
Unfortunately, I mostly remember the sense of dread as I passed by the White House each day on my way to school. Horrible feeling, not knowing what would happen next.
We had already been through the Spiro Agnew resignation so the idea of Nixon's resignation wasn't far-fetched.
I think that the Agnew resignation enhanced Nixon's chances of being impeached because the idea of having Spiro Agnew as president was an impediment to getting rid of Nixon. Once the popular, non controversial Gerald Ford was set to take over, getting rid of Nixon seemed less odious.
Since we are properly discussing in a historical sense - I was just barely a teenager, the entire preceeding that were televised every day were quite boring. I was preoccupied with other things in life. Living in the south, I just remember these lyrics when these topics come up:
"Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?, tell the truth"
It was a slow and painful process, but there are differences from the current situation. First, the disintegration of the Nixon Presidency, while slow and painful, was always headed toward impeachment and everyone knew it. That is not the case with the Mueller investigation; the end is till not in site. Nixon's self defense strategy was feeble. Trump's is vigorous and focused: scare the living daylights out of the Republican majority in both Houses if any member tries to cross him. As a result, they have become complicit in his defense and the House is highly unlikely to issue a bill of impeachment for him to be tried in the Senate.
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