The Watergate Conspiracy Essay Research Paper The

The Watergate Conspiracy Essay, Research Paper

The Watergate scandal of the early 1970’s was a scandal of such great proportion that it could have caused our capitalist government to collapse like the Roman Empire. Watergate left the American people feeling used by all politicians. Since their trust was violated, cynicism stayed with the American people for years afterward. It has been proven that Richard Nixon, the President of the United States, hired seven men to break into the Watergate hotel and bug the Democratic headquarters to find out damaging information. When an elusive character named Deep Throat leaked vital information about the break in to the Washington Post, the major investigation that was launched upon the President received more solid evidence to go on. What was thought to be a third rate break in ended up exposing a “vote greedy” president and eventually led to his resignation.

One of the most mysterious characters in the Watergate scandal is the elusive Deep Throat. Deep Throat helped Bob Woodward, a reporter for the Washington Post, expose the scandal to the American people. So the major question, the best-kept secret in American politics is, what is the real identity of Deep Throat? Only four people in the world know the answer; (a) Bob Woodward, (b) his partner Carl Bernstein, (c) executive editor of the Post, Ben Bradle, (d) and the elusive Deep Throat himself (Sussman 43). According to Woodward, Deep Throat wished to remain anonymous, but wanted the American people to know some things about himself.

He is one person, not a composite of several sources. Aware of his own weaknesses, he readily conceded his flaws. He was, incongruously, an incurable gossip, careful to label rumor for what it was, but fascinated by it. He could be rowdy, drink too much, and overreach. He was not good at concealing his feelings, hardly for a man in his position. (qtd in Graham 1)

What Deep Throat wanted the American people to know is that he was one man who dared to expose the government for their immoral actions.

On June 17, 1972, 5 men broke into the Watergate hotel where the Democratic National Committee headquarters was. The five men, wearing surgical gloves and carrying wire tapping equipment and other spying devices that would be used in police surveillance were arrested (Boyer 906). Soon after the arrest, it was discovered that these men were receiving funds from CREEP (Committee to Re-Elect the President). Press Secretary Ron Ziegler, speaking for the organization denied all accusations quoting, “This incident is a third-rate burglary. Certain elements may try to stretch this beyond what it is (Graham 2).” With help from the unknown source of information, Deep Throat, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, exposed the organization with reports that they hired 50 agents to sabotage the Democrats’ chances to win the 1972 election. Reacting to the Post, Nixon made subtle threats against them.

The Post is going to have damnable, damnable problems out of this one.

They have a television station and they’re going to have to get it renewed [T]he game has to be played awfully rough. I wouldn’t want to be in Edward Bennett Williams’s position after the election. We are going to fix the son of a bitch, believe me. (qtd in Price 2)

With a 77-0 vote, the Senate formed a committee to investigate these reports and bring the truth out.

Even with Deep Throat’s help, Woodward and Bernstein could not prevent the reelection of Nixon in 1972 (Boyer 906). Unfortunately for Nixon, the investigation of his role in the break in began in the spring of 1973 headed by Senator Sam Ervin (North Carolina). Wasting no time in the investigation, Ervin called James McCord, and ex-CIA agent who had taken part in the break in (Matthews). McCord testified that top White House officials had helped to plan the break in and later pay money to have it covered up. With this testimony, the case had blown wide open (Boyer 907). Nixon never saw this bombshell coming, and he never saw the bigger bombs coming at him in months to come.

Starting in May, the Senate hearings began live coverage on television. Millions of Americans were glued to their sets as witnesses gave damaging testimonies against some of the top White House officials (Graham 3). With these testimonies, several officials were sent to jail, but how Nixon was involved was still undetermined. “What did the President know and when did he know it (Boyer 906)?” This was the question Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee asked. In June, Senator Baker got his answer. John Dean, Nixon’s former White House counsel shocked the world with the shocking answer: the president himself had ordered the cover-up (907).

Outraged, Nixon denied the charge, but there was no way to prove him wrong. This was the stalemate the hearing came to until witnesses revealed the truth that Nixon tape recorded his conversations in the White House. Knowing that the truth of the scandal lay in the tapes, the Senate ordered Nixon to give the tapes up (Price 3). Using his constitutional power, Nixon, refusing to give the tapes, cited the separation of power and the need to protect confidential presidential conversations (Sussman 143). He continued later quoting, “Releasing the tapes would endanger national security.” Knowing the President was hiding something, Special Prosecutor Cox dug deeper.

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