Watergate.....OK historians, your memory please.....

[Turbineguy]

I seem to recall that there were lots of people defending Nixon at first (why would he do that? It makes no sense! etc.). But at some point, self preservation kicked in and these people realized they'd better hitch to a new team and fast. Next thing you know, Nixon was gone.


Is my recollection of that correct?

How fast is Frist going to forget all those unpleasant things he said to Richard Clarke?

[Gman]

1. They all defended Nixon until the smoking gun tapes were released

at that point there was nothing more they could do. Nixon was gone a few days later.

[teach1st]

2. I think that's what happened...

I better go study, 'cause my memory sometimes fades.

I also remember that the public -- much like what's going on now -- was intitially in denial, unable to believe that Nixon could do such a thing.

[Zen Democrat]

3. Not All!

George Bush was chairman of the RNC and defended Nixon to the end. All the right-wing true believer types hung in there til the last dog died.

[teach1st]

4. Welcome to DU

It's great to have you aboard!

[against all enemies]

9. Nixon

The reason Nixon couldn't hang on was that there was an independent special prosecutor that collected information that clearly found evidence of a cover-up. (One of the reasons they hate Hillary so much, she was involved.)

Also the Congress had real hearing where members of the Nixon Administration had to testify. Unlike the sorry display we saw last week, (John Lehman), those hearings were looking for the truth.

In all I would say politicians in those days were more concerned with the country than with protecting their own party. The press was independent and people had a brain. Right now we’re 0 for 3.

[hang a left]

5. Welcome.

Can I get you something to drink?

[Jacobin]

6. Oh yeah. He had lots of loyal supporters

He was brought down by his lies about Vietnam. Watergate was the pre-text. A two bit breakin and a criminal cover up, but NOTHING compared to his lies to get re-elected....a 'secret plan' to "end the war" which, when he was elected turned out to be a HUGE escalation.

People were pissed and there was rioting in the streets.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Thru early July 1974....

...Nixon was a shoo-in to finish his term. The Saturday Night Massacre was a full nine months before Nixon's ultimate resignation, and Nixon maintained a solid, impeachment-proof majority among House and Senate Republicans well into the summer.

July 24, when the decision came down in US v. Nixon, was the tipping point.

[DancingBear]

8. I recall that Nixon's approval rating

was at 27% or thereabouts even as he was stepping into the helicopter.

There was a portion of the population known as The Silent Majority that backed Nixon until the end. These folks, like the Freepers of today, had tunnel vision when it came to old TD, as his "commie fighting flag wearing" side far outweighed his Watergate side.


Note: Not all of The Silent Majority backed Nixon during this time, to be sure, but those that did were most definitely part of The Silent Majority.

[enough]

10. A lot of Nixon/Watergate memories on this thread happening right now

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1304439

[Turbineguy]

11. Thanks! I'll move over there then.

I did not mean to start a dupe!