media has always been a vital role in history. Media is the source of information that people use to become informed on current events. It serves as the public's "watchdog" by checking the government on any disinformation. Media is often named as the fourth branch of government because of its ability to hold the government accountable. However, I don't believe that the media should hold the title of the fourth branch of government. The freedom of the press is protected by the first amendment to the United States Constitution. The Founding Fathers protected the freedom of the press with the intention that they report the news without being restricted. If the government regulated the press then, it becomes propaganda instead of factual information. In countries such as North Korea and China, the news is controlled. Therefore, the citizens of the respective countries are limited to the content that the government creates and approves. In these countries, the media can no longer share negative news to the people about what is happening in their country. For these reasons, the freedom of press allows media in the United States to share news without regulations. Government accountability has always been a fundamental pillar of our democratic society. Media holds the government to their words and actions. The …show more content…
history. Former President Richard Nixon and his administration attempted to cover-up a break-in at the DNC Headquarters. Consequently, his involvement in the cover-up attempt was discovered by two reporters at the Washington Post. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were given information from an anonymous source. Their persistence in reporting the espionage behind Watergate led to the writing of a hard-hitting exposé which sparked a widespread investigation by the FBI. In other words, the act of the media holding the government accountable was a massive check on the Nixon
Before the summer of 1972, the word “Watergate” meant nothing more than an office and luxurious apartment complex in Washington, D.C. A curious crime, two young reporters, and a secret source known as “Deep Throat”
In June 1972, Nixon campaign people broke into the Democratic National Committee’s Watergate Central Station, stole duplicates of top-mystery archives and destroyed the workplace’s telephones. But after that they were captured inside the workplace of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), situated in the Watergate working in Washington D.C. Nixon tried to cover the activities of his people before the operation was done by the Watergate secret activities. He tried to stop the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) from investing the activities, vanishing the proofs and changing and terminating the staff members. This act was an abuse of presidential power which was later found, and the president had to surrender.
The Watergate Scandal Essay written by Unknown The Watergate Scandal was a series of crimes committed by the President and his staff, who were found to spied on and harassed political opponents, accepted illegal campaign contributions, and covered up their own misdeeds. On June 17, 1972, The Washington Post published a small story. In this story the reporters stated that five men had been arrested breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. The headquarters was located in a Washington, D.C., building complex called Watergate. These burglars were carrying enough equipment to wiretap telephones and take pictures of papers. The Washington Post had two reporters who researched deep into the story. There names were Carl
As time progressed and the investigation began to uncover the truth about what transpired at the Watergate apartment complex several things became evident: most of the burglars were ex-CIA and ex-FBI personnel, the burglars were paid with money directly from the re-election campaign and President Nixon not only knew about and sanctioned the break-in but deliberately attempted to cover it up. When called before Congress to testify about his knowledge, White House staffer John Dean testified that Nixon and his aides attempted to “stonewall” the investigation. As Congress continued its inquiry, it became clear
On June 17, 1972, Woodward was asked to cover a story for his job at the "Washington Post." There had been a burglary at the Watergate hotel. When he arrived at the newsroom, he discovered that this wasn 't an ordinary burglary, and he wasn 't the only one reporting on it. The burglars had broken into the headquarters of the Democratic national committee in the Watergate office-apartment-hotel-complex. Bernstein had the same assignment. The two men had no appreciation for each other.
The Watergate Scandal was the downfall of Richard Nixon. It made Americans put less trust in the government and built trust in the media. It all takes place at the Watergate Hotel. He led an extremely corrupt administration to get him re elected. He also was the first President to resign. The unethical organization that was formed was called the CRP (later creep). They helped Nixon get re elected in 1972. They used illegal tactics to get him re elected. They paid lawyers for the burglars who broke into the Watergate Hotel. These people were known as the Plumbers. That was directed by John Ehrlichman. They were the White House investigation unit. They prevented information leak and burglarize any of Nixon reveals. Watergate seven was Richard Nixon closest comrades. They were in charge of the Creep and the plumbers that carried out many illegal activities. Christ the Transformer of Business culture is a good trait to obtain. “These people are intimately involved with those in the business, but their distinctive Christian standards are not lost” (Ruddell, 2004, p. 40). The people that were involved in the Watergate scandal should have had this trait.
Watergate is the popular name for the political scandal and constitutional crisis that began with the arrest of five burglars who broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office in Washington D.C. on the night of June 17, 1972. It ended with the resignation of president Richard M. Nixon. The burglars and two co-potters-G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt were indicated on charges of burglary, conspiracy, and wiretapping. Four monthes later, they were convicted and sentenced to prison terms by District Court Judge John J. Sirica, who was convicted that pertinent details had not been unveiled during the trial and proffered leniency in exchange for further information. As it
In the 1970’s There was a series of events that shook the political structure beyond repair. The watergate scandal is a series of illegal actions on the political front that destroyed President Richard Nixon 's presidential Occupation. The main topics that will be covered in this essay are that of the burglary, about President Richard Nixon’s committee to re-elect the President (CREEP), and The evidence that contributed to the demise of President Richard Nixon.
On an ordinary morning of June 17, 1972, five burglars were caught in the Watergate complex after signs of breaking in were found on the doors. No one at that time knew this subtle crime would lead to the greatest scandal in the US history and the resignation of the current President, Richard Nixon. Evidences later showed that the Watergate Incident was only a mere part of the ugly crimes the Nixon Administration had committed to achieve their ultimate goal of reelection, and Nixon had intentionally attempted a cover up to save his reputation. The Watergate incident had inflicted a deep suspicion inside the US citizens toward the government, especially the President, because during his terms, Nixon had obstructed justice and refused to
27). Bernstein and Woodward soon realized that this case was going to be a big deal when they uncovered secret funds of around $800,000 controlled by John Mitchell, Nixon’s law partner and attorney general, that paid for the bugging of watergate and other illegal surveillance. While uncovering more details of this scandal, Bernstein realized that the “picture of the White House was in sharp contrast to the smooth, well-oiled machine [he] was accustomed to reading about in the newspapers” (chapter 2, p.28). The reporters were the main reason why the scandal was tracked all the way back to the White House. They had someone who made their job a little easier that they refer to as “Deep Throat”. This anonymous man told the reporters that the money should be what they focus their attention on. The reporters then attempted to communicate with employees of the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP). When they kept getting shut out they suspected that there was an organized cover up. It turns out that there was an organized cover up. Nixon kept insisting that the White House had nothing to do with the burglary. It was later found out that he had arranged “hush money” to provide the burglars. Not only that, but it became known that he had plans to
The Watergate Scandal was truly the biggest political scandal in United States History. Over forty people where charged with crimes relating to the scandal. Bernstein and Woodward were given a fantastic oppourtunity to uncover something truly significant in history. The twenty-one months of investigative reporting done by these two men would ruin Nixon’s name and make these two common everyday reporters lives change forever. Woodward first got his life changing call on June 17th 1972 with his editor telling him about a small invasion of the Democratic Party Headquarters. With being related to the scandal, two members of President Nixon’s cabinet, H.R. Hadlemen and John Ehrlichman, quickly resigned. When first thought of the president even having something to do with the Watergate Scandal, he made every effort to possibly hide this career ruining event. The break in was first found by a security guard by the name of, Frank Wills. Wills saw a piece of tape covering a broken lock. Wills was
In 1972, Richard M. Nixon hired five ex-cuban trained agents to break into the Watergate complex to gain information on George McGovern. The scandal started when Nixon hired Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt to re-elect Nixon. Nixon knew he was going to win the Presidential campaign, but he didn’t he wanted to win by a landslide.
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were dedicated young reporters at the time Watergate occurred. There dogged pursuit for the truth kept the story from falling into obscurity. Woodward was a relatively new reporter at the time, a Yale graduate, and a Navy veteran. Bernstein dropped out of college and he started working in the newspaper industry at the age of sixteen. By age nineteen, he was a full-time reporter for the Washington Star. Although they were young, and Woodward had not even been a Post reporter for a year, they were dedicated and tenacious. Without Bernstein and Woodward 's efforts, the entire truth may have never been revealed. Their actions during the scandal and their subsequent book has helped Americans see the reality of the Nixon administration.
So what are the ramifications of this definition on the media? Well the answer to that question is in the phrases ?the people are the main political force? and ?engage in frequent and meaningful debates about relevant issues.? The relationship between these two statements is where the media enters the equation because it is the media that provides the public with the relevant issues. Under the Federal Communications Act of 1934 and subsequent legislation and court decisions? broadcasting was to serve the "public interest, convenience, and necessity, ascribing certain democratic functions to the media? (Gseis.ucla.edu). The press and then the broadcast media were thus to provide information, ideas, and debate concerning issues of public significance in order to promote a democratic public sphere. Broadcasting was conceived as a public utility, with the airwaves established as part of the public domain, subject to regulation by the government to assure that broadcasting would meet its democratic responsibilities. Today the relationship between the media, politics and society has changed significantly. Even though they are all interconnected they have specific interactions which each other that should be
Without the media, how would the citizens be able to hold the government to account for their actions? A fair and just society is built by transparency and accountability of the leaders. The media serve to promote this, by acting as a witness of government actions. Politicians make decisions and take action on behalf of the public. Journalists analyse those decisions and give reports of the consequences to the public.