Deep Throat (a.k.a. W. Mark Felt)

The information that the media recieved on the whole Watergate scandal can be accredited to one anonymous source: Deep Throat. This source revealed information that allowed Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, journalists for The Washington Post, to reveal the Watergate scandal to the general public. The information Deep Throat had for the The Washington Post was very similiar to what the FBI was revealing to the White House at the time. Deep Throat was first brought to attention by Woodward and Bernstein in their book All the President’s Men. The identity of Deep Throat was a conundrum to the people seeing as Woodward and Bernstein chose to keep the source incognito. On May 31, 2005, Vanity Fair claimed to know the identity of Deep Throat:  William Mark Felt. Felt, the former Associate Director of the FBI. As the story grew in popularity Woodward, Bernstein, and Benjamin Bradlee, the Post’s executive editor confirmed this.

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Felt’s Information and the FBI

He served in the FBI for 31 years and was greatly integrated with the FBI’s knowledge on Watergate. Because of this, Nixon had suspected him. Although Felt was “confronted” on the issue (not by Nixon himself), he found ways to divert attention from himself by ordering a federal investigation on his own leaks. You can’t deny the bravery he displayed in keeping enough composure in the situation to smartly get out of trouble. Felt was the first one to suggest Nixon’s use of wiretaps to gather information on his opponents, confirmed E. Howard Hunt as a “prime suspect” in the case, and told how Gray destroyed incriminating documents towards Nixon.

Felt ‘s Questionable Methods

Many paint Felt as a hero for disclosing information that evidently led to the impeachment of Nixon and the arrest of many who were involved, but there was a side to him that tampers with his reputation. He was an avid supporter of J. Egdar Hoover, the first director of the FBI who used very contriversal and arguably illegal methods to gather information on political leaders. After Hoover’s death, Felt wanted his position, but Nixon gave the job to L. Patrick Gray III. The want to take control of the FBI may have contributed to Felt’s leaking information. Felt subscribed to Hoover’s ends-justified-the-means way of thinking.  Its open debate to whether Felt is a “hero” or not because while his actions took down a government conspiracy, he was easily ok with to manipulate whatever he needed to in order to get “justice”, even the FBI.

Nixon's Involvement in the Watergate Scandal

Upon investigation after the unfolding of the Watergate Scandal, it was discovered that the burglars were employed by the committee to reelect Nixon. Nixon was excused from the incident because it was said no one in the white house was involved with the burglary. In 1972, as part of Nixon's re-election effort, a massive campaign of political spying and 'dirty tricks' was initiated against Democrats, leading to the Watergate break-in to plant bugs (tiny audio transmitters) inside the offices       of the Democratic National Committee.  

Former Presidential Counsel John Dean testified there was an ongoing White House coverup and that Nixon had been personally involved in the payment of hush money to the five burglars and two other operatives involved in planning the Watergate break-in. Three weeks later, another Nixon aide revealed the President had ordered hidden microphones installed in the Oval Office in the spring of 1971 and had recorded most conversations since then on audio tape.The tapes then became the focus of an intensive year-long legal battle between all three branches of the U.S. government. In October of 1973, Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, who had been appointed by the Nixon administration, publicly vowed to obtain the tapes despite Nixon's strong objections. .This resulted in the "Saturday Night Massacre" on October 20 in which Nixon attempted to fire Cox, but was temporarily thwarted as Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus refused Nixon's order and instead resigned. Solicitor General Robert Bork agreed to carry out the order and fired Cox.

Nixon responded to public outrage by initially agreeing to turn over some of the tapes. However, the White House then revealed that two of the tapes no longer existed and later revealed there was an 18 minute blank gap on a crucial recording of the President and H.R. Haldeman taped three days after the Watergate break-in. Once these pieces of evidence were found, american citizens around the country called for impeachment.

After a long court battle that traveled all the way to the supreme court, eventually it was decided that Richard Nixon was required to surrender all of the tapes. On Saturday, July 27, the House Judiciary Committee approved its first article of impeachment charging President Nixon with obstruction of justice. Six of the Committee's 17 Republicans joined all 21 Democrats in voting for the article. The following Monday the Committee approved its second article charging Nixon with abuse of power. The next day, the third and final article, contempt of Congress, was approved.

Impeachment

Political investigations began in February 1973 when the Senate established a Committee to investigate the Watergate scandal. The public hearings of the Committee were sensational, including the evidence of John Dean, Nixon’s former White House Counsel. The Committee also uncovered the existence of the secret White House tape recordings, sparking a major political and legal battle between the Congress and the President.
On February 6, 1974, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 803 by 410-4 to authorise the Judiciary Committee to consider impeachment proceedings against Nixon.

After effect on the U.S.

Government: The watergate scandal had effected the whole country and changed the way we elect our government officials now. Presidents are no longer able to be indicted for crimes after they have left the office. The impeachment process was changed by the watergate scandal, elected officials could only be impeached if committed a crime only for personal or political gain. Also it set forth several new codes of conduct for all three branches of government. Lastly more than 70 white house assistants and cabinet members were accused of crimes of abuse of power. A pardon by his predecessor Gerald Ford made him immune to these crimes. Nixon and his cabinet crippled Republican party and at the upcoming elections Democrat Jimmy Carter took office by a landslide.

Media: The watergate scandal was a win for journalist across America. People believe Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein took down the President through their investigative journalism. They said they had merely played a minor role in it. Their award winning book "All The President's Men" brought them much fame and even more after becoming a blockbuster hit. There investigative journalism for the Washington Post has inspired many journalist from then to today. Government statements will from then on be looked at with the utmost scrutiny.

Public: Cynicism came to its height after the watergate scandal, only 36% of americans said they still trusted the government. Now days in the public eye we expect the worst out all of the government, politics, and politicians. After military humiliation in Vietnam and then a President resignation for a cover up of thins he had done the trust in the American government by its own people was lost. The golden age for trust in America ended after Kennedy and has no come back yet.

Key Terms

Richard Nixon- President in office during the Watergate Scandal. Was impeached and eventually resigned due to the fact that he was behind the scandal.

Deep Throat- The information that the media recieved on the whole Watergate scandal can be accredited to this anonymous source (a.k.a. W. Mark Felt)

Impeachment

Impeachment Definition: to accuse (public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.

Political investigations began in February 1973 when the Senate established a Committee to investigate the Watergate scandal. The public hearings of the Committee were sensational, including the evidence of John Dean, Nixon’s former White House Counsel. The Committee also uncovered the existence of the secret White House tape recordings, sparking a major political and legal battle between the Congress and the President. On February 6, 1974, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 803 by 410-4 to authorise the Judiciary Committee to consider impeachment proceedings against Nixon.

Nixon was not impeached during the Watergate scandal. There have only been two presidents that have been impeached, Andrew Johnson (1867) and Bill Clinton (1998), both of them were acquitted in their Senate trials.

“RESOLVED, That the Committee on the Judiciary acting as a whole or by any subcommittee thereof appointed by the Chairman for the purposes hereof and in accordance with the Rules of the Committee, is authorized and directed to investigate fully and completely whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional power to impeach Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States of America. The committee shall report to the House of Representatives such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper.”




The Cover-Up

The  White House’s Special Investigation Unit,  called the “Plumbers,” had been set up by John Ehrlichman* to prevent information leaks from the White House and  were also involved  in activities  perpetrated against Democrats and protestors against the war. Four of the burglars had CIA connections and  had been involved in a previous  scandal. (Bay of Pigs Invasion)

Shortly after, a cover-up was undertaken  by people associated with the president and his campaign. Jeb Magruder and others got rid of documents and lied to investigators. The acting  director of  the FBI, L. Patrick Gray, received  and destroyed documents from Ehrlichman (top aide to the president) and  from White House council. After  learning from White House  Chief of Staff  in 1972, that his former  attorney general John Mitchell,  who was now running the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP), might be involved; President Nixon instructed  Haldeman to head off a  possible FBI investigation. He argued that the  investigation might interfere with a CIA operation. Dean and others later tried to get the CIA to go along with the plan.. <(COVER UP) On July 1, Mitchell resigned from the CREEP for  "personal reasons."