Thesis

As decades of expanding presidential power created a culture of secrecy within the executive branch, the Watergate crisis exposed a major breakdown of accountability between the government and its citizens. The exposure of corruption through media coverage and the reaction of congressional investigations showed how limited oversight had become as the nation was forced to react to executive abuses. The public and government also worked to reform presidential accountability by enforcing legal limits on executive privilege and strengthening checks between branches. Ultimately, the Watergate crisis reshaped American democracy by proving that even the president is not above the law and by changing how citizens view political power.