How Scandalous

Government is corrupt. This is what I have been noticing after reading these three chapters. Chapter fifteen was probably my favorite because, until now, history books do not give much insight into this subject. The Watergate Scandal made America look foolish, since our elected leader is suppose to represent our values and principles. President Richard Nixon easily fooled many Americans, many thought of Nixon as humble, reaching all of the requirements for being a great president. However, the citizens of America were deceived. Nixon consequently showed the country his real side through his tapes. The American public were stunned to see the vindictive, small-minded personality of their once believed to be great leader. I believe the thesis of this chapter is to be, people can be easily deceived by the exterior view of our political leaders. Also, there is the ironic theme that what Nixon thought would be beneficial to him, in actuality, the recording system in his office turned out to be the beginning of his defamation.


In my opinion, Nixon should have been worrying about other details instead of being concerned with his re-election. Also, millions of dollars are wasted away every election year to gain supporters. This money could be used to help find much more valuable things such as the following: a cure for cancer, saving the environment, or funding research for the creation of more medicine.

Watergate has become synonymous with abuse of power. Nixon abused his role as president to try to cover up the White House’s involvement with the break in to the Watergate Hotel. The abuse of power was also evident by attempting to set the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency against one another. After reading this, my opinion of Nixon had completely shifted. At first, I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but turning his own agencies against one another to cover up such a scandal was a just imprudent. Nixon, after being pushed by the House Judiciary Committee left office on August 9, 1974.

Before the summer of 1972, Watergate meant nothing to the citizens of America. It merely was a luxurious hotel used by the Democratic office. However, it became the focus of 1973 until 1974 after a “third-rate burglary.” As one of the greatest political scandals ever, Watergate, ruined many lives and reputations, forever changing the life of President Richard Nixon.