What Watergate Means to Me
When thinking about what truly sparked my interest in history, it all comes down to one movie: Night at the Museum (2006), a movie where a nightguard becomes a part of history itself, learning things about himself and the past. This was just the beginning for me, as I would go on to watch many more history films and read many more Who Was? books. Just like any history nerd, I would take AP U.S. History in High School. There, through my teacher, I would learn the story of an event that would captivate my attention for the rest of my life: the Watergate Scandal. This hadn’t been the first scandal for old “Tricky Dick,” but the most notable. After hearing the story of corruption, government surveillance, and the triumph of the free press, I fell in love again with history. My very well-loved copy of All the President’s Men is a testament to this. From the first word, I knew my view of the world would never be the same. Reading how the story unraveled and watching all of the pieces come together showed me the true beauty of journalism and how writing is a weapon against injustice. It’s also the first book recommendation given, it’s the movie I try to convince every history teacher to play, and it’s the only book I can say I’ve read multiple times.
My infatuation with Watergate only grew as time went on. I started collecting anything related to Richard Nixon. I bought old magazines, pins and even a “Nixon Maxxing” hat from his memorial library. I made presentations for school on the “Top Ten Political Scandals in U.S. History,” just so that I could put Watergate at number one. Anytime my friends see anything even remotely related to Watergate or Nixon, it is immediately sent to me.
I loved writing but never saw myself doing anything with it. Journalism was the first career I truly felt like was made for me. I could marry my two loves in a way most could only dream of. I took a creative writing class and tried to make my dream a reality. My creative writing teacher told me “I had a way with words.” I had never thought about the true weight of words, especially words written at such pivotal moments in American history. As I read about journalists and their works, I wonder what they would make of events now.
Not only is Watergate an event of interest to me as a student, but it is also a warning to all Americans. Watergate shows what corruption does to our country. It also shows what happens when the government attempts to suppress the freedom of the press. The First Amendment is the most important of the first ten listed, and as such should be one of the most protected. Nixon, however, was not a big fan of this freedom. This leads to another scandal for “Tricky Dick.” That of the publication of the Pentagon Papers, another triumph for the free press. The press should be free, and Watergate is one of those events that shows that, even in the darkest of times, the truth will always prevail. The work of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward shows this dedication to the truth and the triumph of journalism. Watergate taught us that we truly don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes in our government. In politics, there are deceitful practices that some will undertake at the expense of their constituents and for their own political gain. If we cannot confront the faults of the institution we answer to everyday, then what is the point of having it in the first place? If we are a government for the people by the people, it has a right to be judged by the people.
“What Does Watergate Mean to Me?” In short, everything. It’s the reason why I love history, the reason why I write, and the reason why I want to become a journalist. When I think about Watergate, I think about the corruptions of our former institutions and which corruptions today have yet to be revealed. From plumbers to back channel deals, the story remains the same. Corruption and deceit is everywhere, waiting to be uncovered. My love for journalism and Watergate is intertwined. My biggest motivator and fascination will always be Watergate.
