The Stains of Watergate - 1568 Words

On June 17, 1972, security guard Frank Wills became a national hero. At twenty four years old, he was working the midnight shift at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. He discovered tape over a basement door lock and thinking none of it, he removed the tape. On another inspection round, he found the lock taped over again and called the police. They locked the doors, turned off the elevators, and started checking darkened offices. At 2:30 a.m. on the 6th floor of the Watergate complex, the police discovered five men who were identified as the Plumbers Unit on orders by The Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP) to burglarize the DNC. The men, one who was an ex-CIA agent, were convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping. However, what started as a third-rate burglary unravelled into a broad network of political corruption and espionage within the Nixon administration that became known as Watergate. Before the summer of 1972, the term â€Å"Watergate† meant nothing more than a luxurious complex in Washington, D.C., but because five highly cunning men were somehow caught by an average, $80-per-week security guard, it became associated with the greatest political scandal of the century and many more after that. The Watergate scandal proliferated public skepticism of and mistrust in the federal government, and an angry American public called for immediate response. The widespread public mistrust andShow MoreRelatedThe Stains of Watergate1352 Words   |  5 Pagesdue to the exposure of the Nixon administration’s corrupt activities in addition to the President’s graceless resignation, the public and the news media scrutinized the backgrounds of people who sought power more carefully. A positive outcome of Watergate was the successful national movement for government transparency: to make meetings and records more accessible to the public. In 1974, Congress overrode a presidential veto and revised the Freedom of Information act, providing the public and mediaRead MoreThe Resignation of President Richard Nixon Essay1371 Words   |  6 PagesLegal Brief/Background During the year of 1972, a case submerged that shook the United State Supreme Court, as well as the world. Five intruders were caught breaking and entering into the Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Democratic National Headquarters were responsible for various things, but one key aspect of their job was to raise money and organize campaigns for Democratic candidates, including the presidential candidate, George McGovern. SoonRead MorePresident Nixon And The Watergate Scandal1641 Words   |  7 Pagesdisregarded the Constitution and the oath of office of the President of the United States. President Nixon is most famous for his involvement in the infamous Watergate scandal, which took place on June 17th, 1972 (Timeline). Nixon hired six burglars to break into the Democratic National Committee’s offices, which were located inside the Watergate office, complex in Washington. The burglars’ mission was to plant audio transmitt ers, but they were arrested after being discovered by an on duty watchmanRead MoreMusic And Its Impact On Society1340 Words   |  6 Pagesculture. Individuality, self-expression and the need for political reform were emphasized in concerts such as Woodstock. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the intertwining of music as an expression of people’s disapproval of the Vietnam War and Watergate, shaped James Murray into the musically oriented and political cautious man he is today. James’s adult life began during a period of powerful change, where the youth of America began questioning parts of their country that society accepted. ManyRead MoreEssay about Past Political Controversies2078 Words   |  9 Pageshistory that show the need for ethical political leaders in our government, and why that would benefit society. Past Political Controversies: The Watergate Scandal The Watergate Scandal is an infamous controversy that provides insight into the corruption and operation of the President, Congress, or the Supreme Court. The term â€Å"Watergate† is used to describe the complex and tight-woven web of political scandals that occurred during President Nixon’s presidency between 1972 and 1974. The termRead MoreEssay on World Phone Hacking Scandal2506 Words   |  11 Pagesposition while an act deontologist would have straight up said no to any thought of unethical behavior. Perhaps if Murdoch and those below him had acted in a more deontological manner, the News of the World would still be open and there would not be a stain on the Murdoch brand name. If given the choice of how to obtain information and sources in Rupert Murdoch’s position, I would take the deontological route. I believe every person has the basic right of privacy and that personal information should