Watergate Scandal Analysis

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In 1972, Republican Richard Nixon campaigned for re-election with the help of CRP, or The Committee to Re-elect the President. Also occurring in 1972 was the Watergate scandal, which involved the country’s newly re-elected leader. The Watergate was actually just a hotel which held the Democratic Party, including all of their meetings and important documents, which was broken into and bugged with the help of Nixon himself. The government was chaotic, overwhelmed and shocked by the insidious act that shocked the U.S. Every branch of the government was involved in the attempt to disentangle this gigantic mess. The Supreme Court fought against the President’s power, while Congress attempted to impeach and remove the President, and the President …show more content…

During interviews with White House officials, a special committee of the Senate, named the Senate Watergate Committee, was told that there are tapes that Nixon had secretly recorded. The Senate, with the “okay” from the House of Representatives to impeach the elector, demanded these tapes be given over, as they would help in their argument of illegal activity. According to Article 1, section 3, it says that “the Part convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgement and Punishment, according to the Law.” This gives Congress the right to indict Nixon, even after his removal of office. In addition to this, Article 2, section 4 states that “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and Misdemeanors.” President Nixon was tried for “high crimes and Misdemeanors”, as he acted as a criminal and broke into the Democratic Party’s Watergate, stole, and bugged. Not only that, but Nixon recorded private conversations of multiple people, with their permission or knowledge, which is also criminal activity. These points gave the Senate arguments for their Impeachment, but without the proof, they could not succeed, and their work was thus transferred to the Judicial