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The Watergate scandal, which occurred in the early 1970s, remains one of the most significant political crises in American history. It involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters located in the Watergate complex, which was perpetrated by individuals working for President Richard Nixon's reelection campaign. This incident eventually led to the resignation of Nixon in 1974, after he was implicated in a cover-up of the crime. The impact of the Watergate scandal on American politics and society was profound and far-reaching.
This essay examines the lasting impact of the Watergate scandal, including its effects on American politics, journalism, and public opinion.
The Watergate scandal had a significant impact on American politics, particularly in the areas of accountability and transparency. Prior to Watergate, the presidency was viewed as an institution that was largely immune to public scrutiny and oversight. The scandal exposed the dark side of the presidency and revealed that the President and his advisors could engage in illegal activities, such as breaking into political opponents' offices, and obstructing justice, in order to maintain their hold on power.
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The investigations that followed the scandal revealed the extent of the wrongdoing and the depth of the cover-up.
As a result, Congress passed several reforms to make the government more accountable and transparent. For example, the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 required that public officials disclose their financial records and conflicts of interest. Additionally, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 imposed restrictions on the government's ability to conduct surveillance on American citizens without a warrant.
These reforms were intended to prevent future abuses of power and ensure that the government was more transparent and accountable to the public.
The Watergate scandal also had a significant impact on journalism, particularly investigative journalism. The reporting by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post played a critical role in uncovering the truth about the scandal. They relied on anonymous sources and doggedly pursued the story, despite pushback from the Nixon administration and criticism from other media outlets. Their reporting showed the power of the press in holding those in power accountable and uncovering the truth about government wrongdoing.
The Watergate scandal also inspired a new generation of journalists who saw the value of investigative reporting in exposing government corruption and abuses of power. For example, Seymour Hersh's reporting on the My Lai massacre in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, and the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq in 2004, were both influenced by the lessons of Watergate. Hersh once said, "Watergate was the seminal event in modern investigative journalism. It created a sense of mission and a desire to do this kind of work.
The Watergate scandal had a profound impact on public opinion, particularly in terms of trust in government. Prior to Watergate, there was a high degree of trust in government and the presidency. However, the revelations about the Nixon administration's illegal activities and the subsequent cover-up eroded public trust in the government. A Gallup poll conducted in August 1974, just prior to Nixon's resignation, showed that only 24% of Americans had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the presidency, compared to 51% in 1964.
This decline in trust in government has persisted to this day. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2019, only 17% of Americans trust the government to do what is right always or most of the time. The Watergate scandal and its aftermath helped to create a culture of skepticism and mistrust of government that continues to shape American politics and public opinion.
The Watergate scandal had a lasting impact on American politics, journalism, and public opinion.
Which of the following was a lasting impact of the Watergate scandal. (2023, Apr 05). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/which-of-the-following-was-a-lasting-impact-of-the-watergate-scandal-essay
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