Deseret News archives: Who actually watched the Watergate hearings?
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A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On May 17, 1973, a special committee convened by the U.S. Senate began its televised hearings into the Watergate scandal.
In February, the Senate had voted 77-0 to establish a select committee to investigate Watergate, with Democratic Sen. Sam Ervin named chairman. The hearings held by the Senate committee were broadcast from May 17 to Aug. 7. The three major networks of the time agreed to take turns covering the hearings live.
As a fifth grader, confined at home with a short-term ailment (who gets mono at age 11?), I had a front-row seat to the actions of Ervin, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Rep. Barbara Jordan, etc., as they grilled people like burglars James McCord and E. Howard Hunt, White House counsel John Dean and advisers John Ehrlichmen and H.R. Halderman.
So who watched the proceedings? Research shows an estimated 85% of Americans with television sets tuned into at least one portion of the hearings, including at least one fifth grader.
Since then, Americans have continued to have an obsession with many aspects of the case, which culminated in the resignation of Richard M. Nixon as president.
Here is some of the excellent coverage of issues surrounding Watergate, including interesting follow-up with Washington Times reporter Bob Woodward, who, along with Carl Bernstein, pushed on the story until the world took notice.
“Major players in the Watergate scandal, then and now”
“Exclusive Q&A: Bob Woodward talks Watergate, trust and integrity with the Deseret News”
“Inside the newsroom: A look at anonymous sources, Watergate and the value of trust”
“Why does Bob Woodward want to talk about Watergate with Elder D. Todd Christofferson?”
“Watergate saga changed the life of Bob Bennett”
“Deep Throat revealed: He was Mark Felt of FBI”
“A sweet slice in history: Is Watergate salad making a comeback?”
Another great resource is the American Archive’s “Gavel-to-Gavel” exhibit.
