Thursday August 11, 2022; 10:44 PM EDT
- Many are frustrated by how long it's taking to get the January 6th and other investigations done. This timeline from Watergate can provide some perspective.#
- June 17, 1972. On a second visit to the Watergate headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, men who later were shown to be working for Nixon’s team were arrested. Events following were known by every interested person on the planet as Watergate.#
- November 7, 1972. Richard Nixon was re-elected president of the United States in a great landslide. Early reporting on Watergate did not seem to change the course of the election.#
- March 21, 1973. Referring to the very large effort to cover up the Watergate and related events, John Dean tells Richard Nixon that there is a “cancer” on the presidency.#
- May 17, 1973. Televised Senate Watergate hearings begin.#
- July 13, 1973. Alexander Butterfield reveals that there was a taping system in Nixon’s office. On July 18, Nixon has the taping system turned off, and on July 23 Nixon refuses to hand over the tapes.#
- October 20, 1973. Senior administration officials resign when asked to fire the special prosecutor, who was making things difficult for Nixon to retain control over his image as president.#
- January, February, March of 1974. Nixon team members begin to be convicted of Watergate related crimes, or to plead guilty. On March 4, many of Nixon’s senior team members are indicted.#
- April 30, 1974. White House releases its own edited versions of Nixon tapes, but the House Committee demands the tapes themselves.#
- July 24, 1974. The Supreme Court orders Nixon to hand over the tapes. HIs presidency collapsing around him, and impeachment papers being drawn up, he steps down from the presidency on August 9, 1974.#
- Here’s the point: #
- These things take a long time.#