2006-12-12 06:34:02 · 5 answers · asked by big ant 44 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
The general public was not aware of just how dirty politics could become before Watergate. The press was much more polite towards the office of the President before Nixon. His stonewalling of the press set in motion the distrust that now seems so natural. If you are old enough to remember the Watergate break-in and Nixon's refusal to cooperate with the investigation and also his using the FBI to try to strong-arm the Washington Post to shut up Woodward and Bernstein, you understand how that whole incident changed the way we look at our elected officials.
2006-12-12 09:34:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Much like the shroud of mystery surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it showed the American public that our elected leaders do not automatically deserve our trust. Many Americans had a "blind faith" in the government and believed that our system of government was perfect before Kennedy was assassinated. Watergate was the first crystal-clear demonstration that corruption of a very serious nature can and does take place in Washington, D.C. -- unlike the Kennedy assassination (which has more questions than answers) Watergate and the ensuing investigation gave us rock-solid proof that something illegal was going on in the White House.
2006-12-12 06:45:16 · answer #2 · answered by sarge927 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
,Noxon wasn't president when the conflict in Vietnam started.Eisenhower lit the match, Kennedy threw the match on the pile. Johnson Fueled the fire, Nixon knew the fire was getting out of control,so he did something about it. someone didn't like that so instead of eliminating him completely they took his power away(WATERGATE) I feel sorry for the next president (1 term only) if he's lucky, or it may be a lady president??????? I still think that the president is voted in by his coligues not the people, it's who you know, not who know's you.
2006-12-12 07:26:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It made the media much more powerful in shaping people's attitudes. It also made people more suspicious of the President.
2006-12-12 06:39:14 · answer #4 · answered by ItsJustMe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It showed us that our leaders are not infallible; that they can make mistakes and be crooks.
2006-12-12 06:36:52 · answer #5 · answered by Earth Queen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋