Hillary Clinton Watergate Essay

608 Words3 Pages

With the 2016 election year in full swing, it’s hard not to notice when a candidate’s negative history continues to pop up and create problems, regardless of how far back in time that history goes. Hillary Clinton’s entire political career has treaded the water of many scandals, the first being the ever-famous Watergate affair. When we think of Watergate, we often associate it with former President Nixon and his involvement. But there were several people who were linked to the Watergate affair, some even paying for their crimes behind bars. Clinton, however, suffered only a slap on the wrist and a “pink slip” moment for her own part. What was the Watergate affair? It was the summer of 1972, and Nixon was up for re-election. Several “burglars” …show more content…

The investigation into the Watergate scandal flooded the media and while no one could prove Nixon was aware of the 1972 incident before it happened, he did try to cover it up after the fact. When his involvement in the cover-up came to light in 1974, Nixon resigned from office, but he wasn’t alone. What was Clinton’s connection to Watergate? Hillary Clinton served as a White House attorney on the Watergate investigation committee. During Nixon’s impeachment process, Clinton, along with a few of her cohorts, attempted to deny Nixon the right to counsel due to a lack of precedent. There were also claims that she attempted to hide or withhold information concerning the then-recent impeachment case of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, who was permitted counsel during his own impeachment proceedings. As a result of her involvement, Clinton was fired from her position. Then-General Counsel and Chief of Staff, Jerry Zeifman, advised the public why, calling Clinton a “liar” and an “unethical, dishonest lawyer.” Zeifman further stated that had Clinton’s “ridiculous brief been presented to a judge, she would have been disbarred.” According to Zeifman, Clinton had “conspired to violate the Constitution,” as well as “the rules of the House, the rules of the committee, and the rules of