Reply #14: i was a college student

[democraticinsurgent]

and glued to the TV set during the hearings in the summer of 73.

Prior to the 72 election, the media wasn't paying any attention to Watergate. It was a footnote and a small story that was furiously buried by the Nixon spin machine.

The media's focus was on the Nixon juggernaut which was headed to landslide re-election a la Reagan vs. Mondale in 84. Except that McGovern was really the people's candidate; Mondale was ho-hum for even the most fervent Dem. Oh, and i was just thinking this morning how Nixon was trumpeting his "secret peace plan" during the campaign. Bush's "i wanna be a peace president" rhetoric is hauntingly familiar.

It was only after the 72 election that the shit hit the fan for Nixon.

This was a tumultous time. Nixon haters were in the I-told-you-so mode and rooting for him to be taken down. Conservatives like my parents were in denial about Nixon and blamed the mess on the media who were out to get Nixon. As the facts began to emerge, Nixon fans felt betrayed and were very depressed. They never thought our gov't would be so corrupt.

It unfolded slowly. The revelation of the White House tapes was the beginning of the end for Nixon; that and John Dean's testimony. It was fascinating. The media were much more objective at the time and there were only three networks so the nation's attention was focused on it.

As another poster said, of course what's happening now is 100 times worse than Watergate. Iran Contra was 50 times worse, but somehow got swept under the rug. Reagan's personal popularity and 41's behind-the-scenes puppetry apparently pulled that administration through.

I firmly believe that a re-selected * administration will be taken down in scandal. In some ways that would be preferable to a Kerry win unless Kerry is willing to seriously prosecute the criminals. (In no way does that mean I want * to continue, just that there may be more opportunity for real justice if he does get a second term).