Ronald Reagan to JD Vance: minimizing Watergate is a Republican tradition
On the American right, there is an unbroken lineage of Watergate propaganda going back to the 70s from today
TL;DR
- JD Vance minimized the impact of Watergate, attributing Nixon's downfall to the "deep state" rather than his involvement in criminal activity.
- Commentators noted Vance's remarks as a continuation of Republican cynicism regarding presidential accountability.
- Ronald Reagan, as governor of California, initially downplayed the Watergate break-in, calling it a "prank" and part of the "usual atmosphere of campaigning."
- Reagan later defended Nixon, labeling the investigation a "witch-hunt" and a "lynching," while emphasizing that "we" would not be safe until "we" cracked down on "them."
- The author argues that Reagan's ability to rhetorically absolve fellow Republicans of sin, particularly in supporting Nixon during Watergate, made him attractive to the conservative base.
- Various conspiracy theories have emerged over the years, suggesting external forces like the CIA or internal plots were behind Watergate, aiming to shift blame away from Nixon's administration.
- The phrase "everyone did it, Nixon got caught" became a common justification for minimizing the scandal.
- William Safire pioneered the use of the suffix "-gate" to attach to scandals involving Democrats, a technique that further normalized the minimization discourse.
- The article posits that the spirit of minimizing scandals, as exemplified by Watergate, is present in contemporary conservative politics, including Donald Trump's rhetoric.
- Vance's remarks are seen as part of an unbroken lineage of Watergate propaganda that has influenced conservative circles, particularly the "Maga" movement.