MANY Americans old enough to remember the Watergate burglary hearings that led dramatically to then President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974 are mystified how former President Donald Trump admits to involvement in events far more illegal than Nixon, and yet intends to run for election again in 2024.
Trump's performance at a rally in Texas was crystal clear that he saw reelection as a means of vengeance against people in both political parties who deny his notion of a rigged election. Additionally he vowed to pardon insurrectionists.
"If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6th fairly," he added, “and if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons, because they are being treated so unfairly.” His refusal to admit defeat has become the central focus of his return to office and promises to the faithful are easy to make now.
Lawyers will have plenty to do regardless of what Trump decides about the insurrectionists was well as his defending his government officials if any are indicted.
There are numerous parallels between the Senate Select Committee to Investigate Campaign Practices, also known as the Senate Watergate Committee, from the 1972 presidential election and the current situation. Senator Sam Ervin, a Democrat from North Carolina, was the chairman. Viewed as a rational conservative, he was both a believer in segregation and in civil liberties, apparently not a contradiction to Ervin. President Nixon is said to believe that Ervin might be supportive, but he was not.
Republicans on the Committee and several witnesses defended Nixon, who was popular having won re-election overwhelmingly. But when John Dean testified, the mood changed. Dean, a lawyer, was White House Counsel. It is important to remember that politics in America 50 years ago was contentious but not with the open hatred that has become common place in the age of social networking.
This story is from the February 14, 2022 edition of India Legal.
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This story is from the February 14, 2022 edition of India Legal.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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