Embedded Files
By proving that no leader is above the law, Watergate reshaped American democracy and left a legacy of accountability that endures.
Presidents now operate under constant scrutiny.
(New York Times, 2017)
“The Nixon decision has been cited in over 2,000 subsequent cases involving executive privilege.”
— Supreme Court Historical Society
Modern day Congressional hearing. (Florida Atlantic University Library, 2024).
Oversight remains a lasting legacy of Watergate.
76% of Americans believe presidents should be fully subject to investigation if they break the law.
— Pew Research Center, 2014
Watergate’s lessons continue to shape democratic expectations today
A critical test of American democratic institutions
Institutions acted together to correct executive abuse. (U.S. House of Representatives,
“The system worked—Congress, the courts, and the press together restored the balance of power.”
— New York Times
Reaffirmation that the president is not above the law
Enduring legacy of accountability in American democracy.
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