The most infamous political scandal in US history that resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon and his VP Spiro Agnew in 1974. It centered around a burglery at the Watergate hotel in Washington by the president's operatives to dig up information on his political enemies. The scandal later used a political enemies hit list, firings in the executive branch, wiretapping, threats, the IRS, and intimidation directed toward Nixon's enemies. During Nixon's endictment he refused to surrender tapes to the FBI that he knew would have resulted in his prosecution. Once Nixon knew there were enough votes in the House to impeach him and enough in the Senate to convict him, he resigned in disgrace--the only President to do so. A few months afterward, the new President Gerald Ford gave him a total pardon, allowing him to keep retain his law license. For the rest of his life he continued to deny any involvement in the scandal--at least directly.
Watergate was one of the saddest chapters in American politics in the 20th century. If it weren't for the Watergate scandal, Nixon would go down in history as being a very good President or average at worst.
by krock1dk@yahoo.com December 9, 2008
Get the Watergate mug.n. The granddaddy of the modern political scandal. Also used to refer to scandals similar to Watergate. For the press to compare a scandal to Watergate, the following conditions must be met:
1) It must be of national importance.
2) It must involve the executive branch in some way.
3) Someone outside the media must refer to it as
"a new Watergate" or, "the next Watergate".
4) Should increase angry rants against the
people involved by at least 20%.
If a scandal meets three of these conditions, it may be be given the suffix -gate but the word Watergate must remain out of the article. If it meets two of these conditions, it may be given its own name, such as "Iran-contra affair". If it meets only one of these conditions, it is refered to as "standard political procedure".
1) It must be of national importance.
2) It must involve the executive branch in some way.
3) Someone outside the media must refer to it as
"a new Watergate" or, "the next Watergate".
4) Should increase angry rants against the
people involved by at least 20%.
If a scandal meets three of these conditions, it may be be given the suffix -gate but the word Watergate must remain out of the article. If it meets two of these conditions, it may be given its own name, such as "Iran-contra affair". If it meets only one of these conditions, it is refered to as "standard political procedure".
Watergate is what caused people to lose trust in the government.
The scandal surrounding Valerie Plame may be the next Watergate (but now we can only refer to it as Plamegate).
The scandal surrounding Valerie Plame may be the next Watergate (but now we can only refer to it as Plamegate).
by A_1_B_2_C_______ October 9, 2006
Get the Watergate mug.Related Words
Person A: "Dude, I broke my roommate's laptop, he's going to be pissed.
Person B: "You've got to Watergate that shit, man, don't tell anyone, deny everything."
Person A: "kick-ass"
Person B: "You've got to Watergate that shit, man, don't tell anyone, deny everything."
Person A: "kick-ass"
by 37th President April 26, 2009
Get the Watergate that shit mug.The act of machine shredding all of your mail after reading it instead of just throwing it in the trash. Those especially concerned about identity theft are often "watergaters".
by Binge n' Purge April 18, 2009
Get the watergating mug.We were watergating the social media expert at the other table as he bagged on his former client... thanks for the tip!
by RTGit November 27, 2010
Get the watergating mug.by AngelsBaseball311 January 26, 2015
Get the waterbate mug.1. "...a scandal that we've been referring to as 'Stupid Watergate', because it has all the potential consequences of Watergate but everyone involved is REALLY stupid."
A term coined by John Oliver on his HBO topical political commentary series 'Last Week Tonight' referring to the criminal conspiracy (collusion) involving Donald J. Trump Sr and Russian operatives to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The term illustrates how inept and laughably transparent the involved members of Donald Trump's campaign and transition (including DJT) were at both perpetrating said crimes, and covering them up after the fact.
A term coined by John Oliver on his HBO topical political commentary series 'Last Week Tonight' referring to the criminal conspiracy (collusion) involving Donald J. Trump Sr and Russian operatives to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The term illustrates how inept and laughably transparent the involved members of Donald Trump's campaign and transition (including DJT) were at both perpetrating said crimes, and covering them up after the fact.
I can't believe how f***ing obvious the ties between Trump & Russia are, and how incredibly obvious these goons attempts at a coverup are. How the hell does 'House of Cards' seem more like an actual corrupt presidential administration and this farce of an administration seem like a laughably cheap over the top parody. Literally "Stupid Watergate."
by Nostradumas January 4, 2018
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