What is Watergate?

Watergate incident refers to the political scandal after the illegal activities of the United States and the party government in the 1972 presidential election were exposed.

Watergate is a comprehensive building in Washington. 1972 June 17 Five people were arrested for breaking into the national headquarters of the Democratic Party in the building. Subsequent investigations showed that the Nixon administration took a series of actions to undermine the election process, and the Watergate incident was only one of them. As a result, several government officials were jailed and the president resigned, which was the first time in American history.

A few days after five people were arrested, former White House assistant Hunter Jr. and general counsel Liddy of the re-election committee were charged with theft and eavesdropping. 1973 1 10 In October, Chief Justice Sereka of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia presided over the trial of seven defendants. During the months from his arrest to his trial, although Washington post had been reporting on the case, White House press secretary Ziegler called the Watergate incident a "third-class theft", while President Nixon denied that anyone in the government was involved. Justice Minister Clandins promised to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation, but when interrogating the Watergate Seven, the inspection authorities did not vigorously produce relevant evidence. Judge Serika personally questioned the witness and publicly stated that he did not think that the case had been fully disclosed. Five of the seven defendants pleaded guilty and two others were convicted by the jury. 1973 On March 23rd, Judge Serika read a letter from one of the defendants, McChord. The letter accused the White House of covering up its relationship with Watergate. McChord also said that the White House had pressured the seven defendants to plead guilty and remain silent. As the White House was obviously involved, President Nixon announced in April 1973 that he had started a new investigation. On April 30, Nixon publicly stated that he was responsible for the actions of the White House staff involved. He accepted the resignations of consultants Haldeman and Ehrlichman and Attorney General Clint, and announced the dismissal of Dean. However, Nick Gong insists that he knows nothing about political espionage and efforts to cover up mistakes. On the same day, Richardson succeeded Clinedinst as Minister of Justice. He chose Cox, a law professor at Harvard University, as the special prosecutor for Watergate. Later, the investigation center turned to the Senate and began to hold public hearings on TV by the presidential campaign special Committee (led by Senator Owen Jr.). According to the testimony, the Owen Committee convicted the members of the White House and the campaign committee. However, Dean was the only one who proved that President Nixon was directly involved in the cover-up. Before July 1973, White House staff butterfield revealed that all conversations in the Oval Office were recorded. Cox and the Owen Committee faxed these tapes immediately (July 23). Nixon refused to surrender on the grounds of administrative privilege and national security. When Judge Serika ordered Nixon to hand over the tapes, Nixon said that he could provide a summary of the tapes on condition that he agreed not to ask for presidential documents. Cox refused to accept the proposal. 65438+1On October 20th, the President ordered Attorney General Richardson to dismiss the special prosecutor. Richardson and Deputy Minister Lake Shosning would rather resign than carry out this order. The Deputy Attorney General finally dismissed Cox from his post. The wave of angry mass protests forced Nixon to hand over the tape on June 24, 65438/kloc-0. But Sereka asked for nine sets, and he only handed in seven sets. The White House claimed that the other two sets didn't exist. On May 20th, Judge Serika ordered Nixon to submit other tapes to Special Prosecutor Jawas Key. From July 27th to 30th, the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives passed the impeachment case. On August 5, the president submitted three tapes, which clearly showed that the president was involved in the cover-up activities. As a result, Nixon lost his last supporter in Congress. He announced his resignation on August 8 and left the White House at 1 1: 35 the next morning. 1September 8, 974, the successor President Ford granted Nixon unconditional pardon and no longer punished.

On May 3 1 2005, mark felt, former deputy director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, admitted that he was the man who was once called "Deep Throat" in the Watergate Incident, and had provided key clues about President Nixon's Watergate Incident to American Washington post reporters. 1972, American Washington post reporters bob woodward and Carl Burns exposed the inside story of Watergate according to the inside story of "Deep Throat", which led to the resignation of then American President Nixon. The two journalists refused to disclose the identity of the informant at that time, but the editor-in-chief Simmons quoted the title of a well-known pornographic film "Deep Throat" as the pseudonym of the informant.

He pulled the president of the United States off the stage.

He let Richard Nixon, the former president of the United States, leave his post on 1974, becoming the first "stepping down president" in American history. For more than 30 years, he didn't have a name, leaving only a nickname "Deep Throat" for people to guess.

For most living Americans, the Watergate Incident of 1972 gradually faded away, and the key figure who uncovered the scandal of the American government, Deep Throat, was not uncovered until May 3, 2005, filling a blank spot in American history.

A belated compliment

On the afternoon of May 3 1 Sunday, local time, the residential area in the northern suburb of San Francisco, California, USA. Washington post confirmed that mark felt, the former No.2 figure of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), had a "deep throat" when the news reached here, Felt's neighbors rushed to tell him and jumped with joy.

A large number of reporters quickly gathered in front of the felt lawn, trampled on the flowers and plants in the yard, and blocked the streets of the community for a time.

Felt's grandson Nick Jones spoke to the media, calling his grandfather a "hero" and a "patriot". Thirty minutes later, the door facing the lawn opened, and Felt, wearing a thin black sweater and full of white hair, slowly walked out with his daughter relying on a metal bracket. The flash flashed suddenly, and Felt smiled happily and made a powerful thumbs-up gesture.

Among the neighbors, there are many supporters of former President Nixon, but they still praise Felt for coming forward and telling the truth.

"I don't think he is a hero or a slanderer. I think he fulfilled his duties in the way he thought fit, "neighbor Ronald fiori told the Associated Press. "But I'm glad he said before he died that Americans should know him."

Jim Baker, who has been close to Felt for 20 years, said, "He showed courage. I hope that he will become an example to others, continue the democratic process and supervise the government. "

Even Josh Hickey, a neighbor of 12 years old who is separated from the felt by a wall, is very sensible. He asked the adults, "Did he humiliate Nixon?"

But some people accused Felt of asking for the secret to be made public after his death, and now he wants money.

"ideal person"

One month before Watergate, Edgar Hoover, the legendary leader of the FBI, died, and Felt, the second man, was regarded as the natural successor. In the book "The Pyramid of the FBI" written by 1979, Felt admitted that he thought he was expected to be promoted at that time. "My performance is good, and I think I have waited for an excellent opportunity."

Nixon, then president of the United States, and his cronies also felt Felt's "ambition". They believe that since Felt's mind is focused on promotion, he will be an "ideal candidate" to avoid the FBI's excessive involvement in the Watergate investigation. They are all wet.

In the end, Nixon insisted on placing "one of his own" in the FBI, and appointed Patrick Gray, assistant attorney general, to undertake this important task. Felt was angry at the White House's attempt to control the FBI, and he became one of the FBI officials protesting the White House's obstruction of the investigation.

Later, the tape recorded that the White House Chief of Staff, H·R· Haldeman, told President Nixon in 1972 that most of the information was leaked by Felt.

Felt revealed a lot of inside information to Washington post reporter, and asked him to "start with money" to trace the source of Nixon's campaign funds, and finally revealed the truth.

1973, one year after Watergate and one year before Nixon left, Felt resigned from the FBI.

1978, he was prosecuted for approving the search of the homes of members of the radical group "Underground Weather". Felt pleaded guilty and President Reagan pardoned him on 198 1. Deep Throat has disappeared for nearly a quarter century.

30 years of mystery

In the past 30 years, Felt has been suspected of "deep throat" countless times, and he has never admitted it.

The Atlantic Monthly published on 1992 reported that bob woodward, a 29-year-old journalist in charge of news in Washington post, contacted Felt on June 1972 to interview on "internal corruption in the Washington Police Department".

A few months later, someone tried to assassinate presidential candidate George Wallace in Woodward and broke several exclusive stories. As for the source, Woodward used an alias to cover up Felt as the real information provider.

After Watergate, Woodward found the felt again. Only Woodward, colleague Carl Burstein and Ben Bradley, then editor-in-chief of Washington post, knew who Deep Throat was. They agreed that Felt would never reveal the secret in his lifetime.

"FBI No.2 provided us with excellent news," Washington post quoted Ben Bradley as saying on May 3 1. "The only thing that surprises me is that this damn secret has been kept for so long."

The White House once traced Deep Throat, and Nixon himself once doubted Felt. Felt has always denied that he provided information to Washington post. "Pat (Patrick's nickname), I have never revealed anything to anyone," Felt once told his new boss Patrick Gray. "They are all wrong!"

Washington post briefly mentioned Fett in his retrospective report on Watergate in 1997, but the mystery has not been solved. 1974, Felt was "cornered" by a reporter and asked if he had a "deep throat". Felt didn't say "no" directly, but said, "Whether deep throat is a real person or a combination of several people, I think this question will never be answered."

For more than 30 years, Americans have been speculating among several people who may have a "deep throat".

1999, 25 years after Nixon resigned, journalists who tried to extract the truth from Felt, one of the possibilities of "deep throat", still failed. Only Woodward is the only one who can visit Felt in his apartment in California.

Fashion middleman

Felt 19 13 was born in Idaho, USA, and 1942 reached its peak after joining the FBI. At first, he worked in Houston, Texas, and made great achievements in fighting crime.

In the 1960s, Felt was promoted to the Washington headquarters of the FBI. He is very capable and deeply appreciated by Hoover. He was soon promoted to his right-hand man.

In 1970s, the handsome Felt often spoke to the media on behalf of the FBI, and his fashionable black wide-brimmed glasses left a deep impression on the public.

Felt has a soft spot for whisky, and his taste is extraordinary. However, perhaps in order to create a mysterious atmosphere, Woodward and Bernstein's "The President's Team" and the movie of the same name all described "Deep Throat" as "a heavy smoker". Actually, Felt doesn't smoke at all.

Woodward once pointed out that Deep Throat is a "synthesis" of one person, not several people. He holds an important position in an administrative department and likes cigarettes and scotch. (The ins and outs of Watergate)

The Watergate incident started as an illegal intrusion of 1972, which did not attract much attention at first. But two years later, the political storm triggered by this case led to the resignation of the first and only president in American history.

Watergate is a comprehensive building in Washington. 1972 On June 17, five people were arrested for breaking into the national headquarters of the Democratic Party in the building. Subsequent investigations revealed that these people were employed by Nixon's men.

According to the investigation, Gordon Liddy, the general counsel of the re-election committee of the President, accepted $250,000 to implement a plan to sabotage the election. Liddy worked for the FBI, when he was a financial adviser to Nixon's re-election campaign. His despicable means include installing a telephone bug at the national headquarters of the Democratic Party in Watergate Building and consulting Democratic Party documents.

The five people who sneaked into the Watergate Building were not ordinary thieves, including Howard Hunt, a former CIA agent, and James McChord, a technician who had served in the CIA for 20 years. McChord was in charge of the security of Nixon's re-election committee.

Two young journalists in Washington post, bob woodward and Carl Burstein, have been following the story since the incident. They are sensitive to the fact that the scandal has something to do with the White House. During the interrogation of five intruders, McChord was asked to identify himself, and Woodward heard him whisper "CIA".

However, although Woodward and Bernstein used their own reports to keep the Watergate incident out of the public eye, Nixon still won the election with an overwhelming advantage and was re-elected.

However, the Watergate investigation has not stopped. McChord sent a letter to the court accusing the White House of trying to cover up its relationship with Watergate. McChord also said that the White House had pressured the defendants to plead guilty and remain silent.

At this stage, the investigation center was transferred from the government to the Senate, and the Senate Presidential Campaign Special Committee (led by Senator Owen Jr.) held a public hearing on TV. Nixon's assistant began to be investigated. The White House was under increasing pressure, and Nixon ordered two aides to resign. Later, he fired John Dean, a White House consultant, who revealed how the White House tried to gag the Watergate invaders with money.

President Nixon insisted that he knew nothing about covering up Watergate. He said that he never encouraged his employees to take any improper measures in the election. However, according to the testimony, the Owen Committee found the members of the White House and the campaign committee guilty.

The lie was finally exposed. In addition to Dean, Nixon's former White House staff member Alexander butterfield also stepped forward and revealed that all conversations in the Oval Office were recorded. The Senate asked the White House to hand over the videotape. Nixon insisted on not handing them over at first, and even used his power to dismiss Cox, the independent prosecutor in charge of investigating the case. Under the strong public protest, Nixon finally had to hand over the videotape. This tape confirms the direct relationship between the president and Watergate. Nixon resigned in August 1974.

The fate of the key figures in Watergate

President Richard Nixon: 1968 and 1972 Nixon resigned suddenly in 1974, becoming the first and only president in American history to resign. Since then, he has lived for 20 years and has written many books on international affairs and biographies of his life and political career. Nixon died in 1994 at the age of 8 1.

Senator Sam J. Owen Jr.: A Democratic senator from North Carolina. He was then the chairman of the Senate Presidential Campaign Select Committee, or Watergate Committee for short. Later, he retired from the Senate and returned to his hometown of Morganton, North Carolina. He has written three books. 1985 died at the age of 88.

Bob woodward and Carl Burstein: At that time, they were journalists in Washington post, who were in charge of investigating trespasses and other activities of the Nixon administration. After Watergate, they wrote many books. Bernstein later became the editor of Vanity Fair magazine, and Woodward is currently the assistant executive editor of Washington post.

Charles colson: At that time, he was President Nixon's special adviser. He set up a so-called "plumber" team to investigate the leak in the White House. Spent several months in prison. He is currently a writer and the founder of "Prison Scholarship". In February 2005, he was named "the 25 most influential Protestants in America" by Time magazine.

John Ehrlichman: At that time, he was President Nixon's domestic policy adviser and personally led the "Plumbers" group. 18 months imprisonment. Later, he became a writer and business consultant. 1999 died in Atlanta at the age of 73.

H R "Bob" Haldeman: At that time, he was President Nixon's White House Chief of Staff and served 65,438+08 months in prison. He wrote an autobiography and later became a real estate developer in California. 1993 died at the age of 67.

E Howard Hunt: At that time, he was a member of the White House plumber's team, organized the action of installing a bug in the national headquarters of the Democratic Party in Watergate Building, and served nearly three years in prison. Currently living in Florida, writing spy novels.

Gordon Liddy: As a former FBI agent, he helped plan Watergate. Spent more than four years in prison. Later, he became an actor, writer and radio talk show host.