It has been over fifty years since the Nixon administration attempted to bug the headquarters of the Democratic Party in the Watergate Hotel. Nixon was about to win the general election against George McGovern in what can accurately be described as a landslide. Electoral Votes 520 to 17. Popular vote split 60 to 40 for Nixon.
And yet he felt the need to use illegal tactics against his political rivals. It revealed a deep and abiding paranoia that threatened our Democracy.
Congress sponsored a bipartisan congressional investigation that held the Executive Branch to a legal standard. Recordings discovered through this investigation confirmed irrefutably President Nixon’s illegal activities. July 27 to the 30th 1974, members of both parties voted to approve three articles of impeachments. Less than a week later President Nixon resigned.
It is worth reminding ourselves how well our public servants responded to this crisis. A stark contrast to the events today. I offer up some quotes from the major players in this drama in the hopes that it might highlight the differences.
Words From Our Preservers
“There is nothing in the Constitution that authorizes or makes it the official duty of a president to have anything to do with criminal activities.” Sam Ervin Senator North Carolina
“From Watergate we learned what generations before us have known; our Constitution works. And during Watergate years it was interpreted again so as to reaffirm that no one – absolutely no one – is above the law.” Leon Jaworski Special Prosecutor
“The President seems to extend executive privilege way out past the atmosphere. What he says is executive privilege is nothing but executive poppycock.” Sam Ervin
“Whether ours shall be a government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people.” Archibald Cox Special Prosecutor
“The Court fails to perceive any reason for suspending the power of courts to get evidence and rule on questions of privilege in criminal matters simply because it is the president of the United States who holds the evidence.” John Sirica Judge
“A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen to be impartially dedicated to the general public interest, nor will they give trust to those high in government who violate the rule of law they ask citizens to obey . . .” Archibald Cox
“I believe that no principle is more dear to this nation than that ours is a government of laws– and not of men – just laws, fairly enforced.” Peter Rodino Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
“Our government leaders… have made many mistakes in the past when they have lost sight of the sacred American values rooted in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We are at the brink of even graver mistakes and assaults on these values.” Samuel Dash Attorney
“Had the Senate or House, or both, censured or somehow warned Richard Nixon, the tragedy of Watergate might have been prevented. Hopefully the Senate will not sit by while even more serious abuses unfold before it.” John Dean Advisor to President Nixon
“I think all good reporting is the same thing – the best attainable version of the truth.” Carl Bernstein Journalist
“This vote may end any future political career. But that pales into insignificance when weighed against my historic duty to vote as my conscience dictates. Those who oppose impeachment say it would weaken the Presidency. In my view, if we do not impeach the President after all that he has done, we would be weakening the Presidency even more…” Lawrence Hogan Maryland Congressmen on the House Judiciary Committee
“When dictators and tyrants seek to destroy the freedoms of men, their first target is the legal profession and through it the rule of law.” Leon Jaworski
“I want with all my heart to be able to say to you now that the President of the United States is innocent of wrongdoing, that he has not committed an impeachable offense, but I cannot say that.” Lawrence Hogan
“Whatever the result, whatever we learn or conclude, let us now proceed with such care and decency and thoroughness and honor that the vast majority of American people, and their children after them, will say: ‘That was the right course.” Peter Rodino Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
“I felt that if we didn’t impeach, we’d just ingrain and stamp in our highest office a standard of conduct that’s just unacceptable.” Walter Flowers Congressman from Alabama
“I am not a Crook!” Richard Nixon President of the United States
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