Today in Supreme Court History: January 8, 1973

1/8/1973: Trial begins for seven men accused of illegal entry into Democratic headquarters at Watergate hotel. The break-in would give rise to U.S. v. Nixon.

The Watergate Complex

 

 

Comments

[Dan Schiavetta]

Woodward and Bernstein were not the ones to bring Nixon down. They were practically alone in investigating this affair during 1972 and no one made a big fuss about it except the McGovern campaign (which couldn't get anyone to listen). It was this trial, specifically Judge Sirica threatening maximum sentences after the convictions, that flushed out the White House connections, and from there the unraveling began.

[Commenter_XY]

Wasn't there a SCOTUS case, or DC Circuit court case [Martinez Baker] that came out of this affair? How would that precedent apply today if people start hauling former cabinet officers to trials.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

The Volokh Conspiracy would have been a lot of fun during the Nixon period.

[Dan Schiavetta]

That's something we can all agree with.

Our social studies teacher in eleventh grade, a conservative, wouldn't let us talk about Watergate during Current Events because "we don't know anything about it yet". This was the school year 1973 - 1974.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

We defeated those right-wing jerks.

We're defeating these right-wing clingers.

Let's enjoy the ride as we improve America.

[Mr. Hook]

We would have had a steady diet of Weatherman and the Black Panthers being behind *everything*, including Watergate.

[David Nieporent]

And whatabouting something Harry Truman did, and the 18½ minutes don't prove anything, and there's no proof that Nixon had anything to do with the burglary and everything else is just a process crime.

[Bob from Ohio]

Nixon did nothing wrong.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Your disaffectedness makes me as happy as it makes you sad, Bob. People like you deserve to be unhappy.

[Dan Schiavetta]

SENATOR TALMADGE: If the President could authorize a covert break in, you don’t know exactly where that power would be limited. You don’t think it could include murder — or other crimes beyond covert break-ins, do you?

JOHN EHRLICHMAN: I don’t know where the line is, Senator.