This may sound like a dumb question to ask. The only reason I am asking is because im interested and nobody will take the time to explain it. It was before my time. So I come to my fellow ATSers and ask my question, What was Watergate?

[Edited on 9-10-2003 by theshadowknows]

I am more prepared to offer the google search selection "Nixon Watergate" than to fully expound on why Presidents should not abuse intelligence agencies.

TSK, you would have known this from your most basic first week of training at the CIA! What comedy!

All i can say is look it up.

Originally posted by theshadowknows
This may sound like a dumb question to ask. The only reason I am asking is because im interested and nobody will take the time to explain it. It was before my time. So I come to my fellow ATSers and ask my question, What was Watergate?

[Edited on 9-10-2003 by theshadowknows]

Watergate? Oh it was nothing really just only one the biggest political scandals in American history that brought down a presidency. Look it up and read. Its a great story. I would also recommend the book "All the Presidents Men". There is also a movie by the same name.

Essentially,

Nixon had formed his own intelligence group in the White House. This was because he felt that he couldn't trust the FBI or CIA. This group, called the "Plumbers", reported only to the White House and was not sanctioned by the overall government. More or less, they were tasked with finding leaks in the executive branch (thus their name).

Nixon's staff feared that a 'leak' was funnelling info to the Democratic party. To counter this, Nixon ordered the 'Plumbers' to break into the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington DC. They were caught... and thus the scandal began.

In the following months, other improprieties of the Nixon administration began to emerge. Rather than turn over a collection of secretly recorded audiotapes, Nixon chose to resign as POTUS. To this day, no one knows what was said during an erased 16-18 (I forget) minute period on the tapes.

great summary.

[Edited on 12-9-2003 by The General]