Key Issue: What is the technological outcome of Watergate ?

Recommended soundtrack: Furry Lewis – “Kassie Jones”

A: The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is a modern aircraft carrier that began construction in 2009, long after the Watergate scandal and Nixon's presidency. It is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors built by Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation, a subsidiary of Bechtel Corporation.

——————————-

Watergate was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States during the early 1970s, which ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. The scandal began in 1972 when five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C.

Key points about the Watergate scandal:

The break-in was orchestrated by members of Nixon's re-election campaign, who aimed to plant listening devices and steal documents.

Investigations revealed that Nixon and his administration attempted to cover up their involvement in the break-in and other illegal activities, including using the CIA and FBI to obstruct the investigation.

Journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post played a crucial role in uncovering the scandal, with the help of an anonymous source known as "Deep Throat" (later revealed to be FBI Associate Director Mark Felt).

In 1973, televised Senate hearings, chaired by Senator Sam Ervin, further exposed the extent of the Nixon administration's misconduct.

A special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, was appointed to investigate the scandal. Nixon ordered Cox's firing in the "Saturday Night Massacre," which led to public outrage and calls for Nixon's impeachment.

In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Nixon to release secret White House tapes, which provided evidence of his involvement in the cover-up.

Facing almost certain impeachment and removal from office, Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, becoming the first and only U.S. president to resign.

Several of Nixon's aides were convicted for their roles in the scandal, and some served prison time.

Nixon was later pardoned by his successor, President Gerald Ford, which sparked controversy.

The Watergate scandal had far-reaching consequences, leading to a decline in public trust in government institutions and reforms in campaign finance laws and government ethics. It also coined the suffix "-gate" for subsequent scandals in the United States and other countries.