How Has The Watergate Scandal Changed Politics

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To this day, on June 17, 1992 has changed politics for a lifetime. On this day, early in the morning the Watergate scandal took place. The Watergate scandal took place during Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign. Multiple burglars were arrested inside the office of the Democratic committee located in the Watergate building. The burglars were connected to Nixons reelection campaign and they were caught while trying to steal documents and wiretap phones to spy on the democratic party. Historians weren’t sure if Nixon was involved in the situation or knew about it. However, afterwards he tried to cover it up by raising “hush-money,” trying to get the FBI to stop investing, demolishing any known evidence, and firing any staff member who didn’t remain cooperative throughout the situation. This scandal allegedly forced …show more content…

Another presidential scandal is known as the Lewinsky scandal. In 1995, Bill Clinton had an affair with Monica Lewinsky. In 1996, Lewinsky was removed from the white house and placed at the pentagon because people were concerned that she was spending an excessive amount of time with the president. While at the pentagon, Lewinsky told a woman named Linda Tripp about the affair while Tripp secretly recorded the phone call. Tripp sent the recordings to Kenneth Starr who was in the process of investigating Bill Clinton’s sexual harassment of Paula Jones. Clinton and Lewinsky denied the affair. Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives but was able to serve for the remainder of his term. Another presidential scandal that took place was the Iran Contra Affair. Iran and Iraq were at war at the time and Iran was desperate for weapons. Ronald Reagan sold missiles to Iran in exchange of American Hostages. When this was announced publicly, he admitted to selling missiles but denied the deal of hostages. Later, Reagan admitted to selling “arms for hostages” in