All the President’s Men: An Essay by Lawton Robinson
Watergate. The word has become synonymous with lies, corruption and suspicion. Since its inception the United States has suffered many dark periods, yet none was ever as dark and scandalous as this incident. Watergate turned a cynical eye and untrusting view to the White House. Watergate and the ensuing cover-up of corruption would become a travesty that would betray the principles laid down in the Constitution of the United States. All The President’s Men chronicles the events and the web of lies from the initial break-in, to the trial and resignation of President Richard Nixon.
The Watergate scandal began in 1972 with the campaign to re-elect Richard Nixon. During this time the organization of the Committee for the reelection of the President was allowed to use illegal means to move the election in Nixon’s favor. One of the means that this was accomplished was when CREEP used financial contributions acquired from wealthy corporate donors. The group also took steps to eliminate Nixon’s opponent. Edmund Muskie. Among their tactics were: false charges of sexual misconduct by other candidates, placing individuals at Muskie political rallies with harmful posters and asking embarrassing questions, and launching smear campaigns over the radio and through the newspaper. The attacks were successful to say the least. Muskie was knocked out of the running and was replaced by what the Nixon Administration believed to be an easier opponent, George McGovern. It was the authorization for CREEP members to illegally enter the Democratic Party headquarters. The burglars were authorized to illegally place wire taps in the building and take photographs of documents. They managed to get away with it the first time, but later in the summer of 1972 the burglars returned but were caught by a guard on his patrol. The burglars were arrested and the break-in was downplayed; Nixon won the election.
It was the morning after the break-in that the first of two journalists would be called in to investigate the matter. Bob Woodard had only been working for the Washington Post for nine months when he was handed the story. Together with Carl Bernstein the two had very different journalistic approaches and backgrounds but both still managed to work as a committed team. The duo came into contact with a legion of politicians and well to do individuals who had their own agendas. The journalists slowly began to put the pieces of the puzzle together and all the signs ended up pointing to the President himself. The order came directly from the Oval Office which commissioned the burglars to commit the crime. Among the burglars, Woodard and Bernstein learned, was an ex FBI agent and finance councilor named G.Gordon LIddy. Liddy in time would become just as infamous as Nixon himself.
While Woodard and Bernstein both were gifted and clever enough to gain answers to the story, they would not have gotten the complete picture without the aid of a mysterious mole in the White House. This shadowy figure aided in leaking certain information the key points. The source was someone in the Executive Branch of the government with a good deal of access to both the CRP and the White House, respectively. Woodard was only able to contact his source on important occasions. The discussions between the two were only held to confirm information that would add perspective to the overall story. In newspaper speak that meant that discussions were on “deep background,” and that Woodard could not reveal the source. Managing editor Simons dubbed the source “Deep Throat.” Thanks to Deep Throat Woodard and Bernstein were able to learn of the involvement of a man named Howard Hunt who was one of the burglars at Watergate. Deep Throat also tipped the journalists off that the FBI were becoming suspicious of how the Post was obtaining information.
Within the storm of intrigue Woodard and Bernstein were not the only tow out to learn the truth. The danger to Nixon’s Administration truly began when Judge John J. Sircia presided over the trial of the burglars. In the ensuing investigation led by special prosecutors Archibald Cox and Leon Jaworski, thirty aides of the President and two attorney generals were convicted of crimes. The burglars were charged with the criminal acts of: bugging the office of the DNC and an attempt to destroy the campaign of Edmund Muskie. District Judge Sirica required that all of the burglars cooperate with the court or face heavy prison sentences. At the same time Nixon moved to have Cox fired because, according to the presidential aides, Nixon feared that Cox would also prosecute him.
These events occurred on the heels of Woodard and Bernstein being informed by presidential aide Alexander P. Butterfield, that Nixon had a special tape system at the time that was only known to him. The tapes contained conversations held by Nixon and his advisors over the previous two years. When Xion was accused of doctoring the tapes and refused to let a committee listen to them, Nixon’s credibility as a leader fell into question. By early November, Nixon, bowing to public opinion and a court order, surrendered seven of the tapes with two, according to his lawyer, claimed never existed. When the tapes were heard it revealed enough to convict Nixon of illegal activities in Watergate and let the nation know about the private man behind the president.
On March 1st the Washington grand jury indicted the original conspirators. Sven White House and campaign aides were charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice. The President faced the Judiciary Committee; the hearings were televised. The verdict was impeachment. Three articles of impeachment were brought against him: obstructing justice, abusing Constitutional authority, and failing to obey the Committee’s subpoenas. Nixon would resign on August 9, 1974.
It was because of the dedication to the story that Woodard and Bernstein were able to expose the most powerful figure in the nation as a corrupt and dangerous man. The adage that power corrupts truly ended up pertaining to Nixon.
