Watergate

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Watergate
The climax of the Watergate scandal was the resignation of President Richard Nixon on August 8, 1974. It all started after a number of robbers had been arrested on June 17, 1972, when they were trying to break into Watergate building to rob confidential information stored at the Democratic National Committee office. It later turned out that the robbers were part of President Nixon’s campaign team. The president disowned any involvement in the attempted theft. However, it later emerged that the president was indeed aware of the theft. President Nixon attempted to thwart the efforts of the courts to investigate the scandal, but it was in vain. After the details of the scandal had been made public through the media, it is believed that many citizens lost faith in their leaders, led to the weakening of the institution of the presidency and growth of some sectors.
After the scandal, many politicians agreed that the political system in the United States required an immediate restructuring. Part of the process was the increased calls for the need for transparency and honesty among leaders. In this regard, the years that followed the scandal saw Congress increase its push for reforms in the political system to get rid of weak points. Such reforms included laws that created the limit on the amount of money a presidential candidate can spend during primaries. The laws also limit the amount a presidential aspirant can spend on the campaigns after winning the party primaries.

Both houses also passed laws that restrict the amount of money any individual can donate to a political aspirant. Also, limits were put in place with regards to the amount senate members can receive and spend on campaigns. The rules governing the expenditure of political funds were also introduced. The habit of disclosing personal wealth by politicians emerged and serves as a sign of transparency (News 1).
The Watergate scandal is also believed to be the leading cause of the strained relationship between the presidency and Congress ever since. For instance, in recent years the Congress has passed laws that restrict the president’s authority to start a war. Also, both houses now enjoy more powers with regards to the budgeting process since the president’s powers have been limited. Aside from the rise of political supremacy among the arms of government, the need for experienced and honest personnel to run the white house was evident following the scandal. After the scandal, the trust the American people had in politicians and public officers was eroded. Voters have to think twice before agreeing with politicians. Therefore, experienced persons will help build back the confidence in the presidency and government. Also, thanks to the Watergate scandal the film and journalism industries grew tremendously. Two of the leading reporters of the scandal Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward inspired many students to pursue journalism since their works on the scandal were popular and were among the best-selling journals. The film “all the president’s men” won Oscar awards in 1976 (Finney 1).
In conclusion, the Watergate scandal led to the loss of faith in government among citizens, the introduction of changes in political regulations, a weak presidency and the rise of the popular culture. The US has since enacted numerous laws that regulate the conduct of public officials and how political funds are utilized. There is also the never-ending battle for power between the presidency and the Congress. Lastly, the number of students pursuing journalism courses in the mid-1970s increased as a result of the scandal.
Works Cited
Finney, Daniel P. “Watergate Scandal Changed the Political Landscape Forever â�� USATODAY.com.” USATODAY.COM, 16 June 2012, usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-16/watergate-scandal-changed-political-landscape/55639974/1.
News, US. “Effects of Watergate: The Good and the Bad.” U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report, 8 Aug. 2014. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.