The Aftermath of the Scandal
-Grace C-
The abuse of presidential power during the Watergate Scandal had an everlasting impact on our country and how we operate politically. President Richard Nixon kept his involvement in this scheme under wraps for as long as he possibly could, yet when the truth was revealed, resignation was inevitable. As a result of the Watergate Scandal, Congress passed a series of laws in which limited the president’s power, including the Ethics in Government Act. The hard work of the Congressional leaders at this time showed that the Constitution’s Checks and Balances system was able to pressure an abusive president out of office. This final blow was the culmination on many indiscretions by President Nixon, but the main impetus seemed to be the ‘Saturday Night Massacre’. President Nixon lost his Attorney General Elliot Richardson and his deputy, both of whom refused to fire the special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Nixon quickly appointed a new Attorney General who fired Cox, but this led to backlash from the people as well as Congress and ultimately helped Congress move him out. His resignation left his party, the Republicans to be made victims by the voters, who elected more Democrats in the following elections, including a Democratic President in 1976, Jimmy Carter. The Watergate Scandal left a lasting impression on the American view of Richard Nixon's image and legacy, which are permanently tarnished.
Richard Nixon's Resignation Speech
Nixon's Life After the Watergate Scandal
The resignation of Richard Nixon after the multiple scandals was not the end of the story. Following his resignation, Nixon returned to his home in San Clemente, California. On September 8, 1974, just one short month after the resignation, President Gerald Ford granted Nixon a "free, full, and absolute pardon.” Nixon released a statement expressing regret, yet nothing could survive the loss of the public's faith and trust in politicians and elected officials. Due to Nixon's party affiliation and the outrage over a preemptive pardon that Ford granted Nixon after he became president, people associated corruption with the Republican Party. As stated above, fallout from the Watergate Scandal, along with President Ford’s quick pardon, led to Democratic victories in the mid-term elections of 1974. The Democrats gained five seats in the Senate and 49 in the House. The Democrats used this advantage again in 1976, when relative political newcomer Jimmy Carter, Georgia Governor, became President of the United States, defeating the incumbent Gerald Ford.
The resignation of Richard Nixon after the multiple scandals was not the end of the story. Following his resignation, Nixon returned to his home in San Clemente, California. On September 8, 1974, just one short month after the resignation, President Gerald Ford granted Nixon a "free, full, and absolute pardon.” Nixon released a statement expressing regret, yet nothing could survive the loss of the public's faith and trust in politicians and elected officials. Due to Nixon's party affiliation and the outrage over a preemptive pardon that Ford granted Nixon after he became president, people associated corruption with the Republican Party. As stated above, fallout from the Watergate Scandal, along with President Ford’s quick pardon, led to Democratic victories in the mid-term elections of 1974. The Democrats gained five seats in the Senate and 49 in the House. The Democrats used this advantage again in 1976, when relative political newcomer Jimmy Carter, Georgia Governor, became President of the United States, defeating the incumbent Gerald Ford.