May 17, 1973 - the beginning of the Watergate Hearings

[question everything]

Fascinating recaps by Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer who started covering the hearing from gavel to gavel, fighting the bosses of PBS who wanted to leave news to the Networks.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june13/watergate_05-17.html

[liberal N proud]

1. And republicans are still looking for revenge.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. I was 7 and feeling a bit smug when Watergate broke open...

The previous fall, Mom had me down at Democratic headquarters stuffing envelopes with McGovern literature and I was swept up in the anti-Nixon fervor. I still remember the morning of November 8, when my sister woke me up to get ready for school. I groggily asked, "who won?"

"Nixon. I'm sorry."

I shot back, "Nixon... NEVER!" (I'd read that on a campaign banner at Dem HQ).

Several months later, during summer vacation, I watched the hearings unfold live on TV and it provided confirmation that I was RIGHT! Nixon was the wrong choice!

About a year later beyond that, we were watching a rerun of Good Times when they interrupted the broadcast with a special message from the President; he was to resign the following day at Noon.

I jumped from my chair (I believe it was a bean bag chair ) and yelled "Dyn-O-MITE!!!"

[question everything]

3. And yet, compare with what we have seen since

Nixon would be considered a moderate. Perhaps would be kicked out of today Republican party.

[Boomerproud]

4. Watched every day in my POD (Problems of Democracy) class senior year.

Never had to open a book and the teacher didn't have to teach. It was quite a history lesson. I do remember the boys saying that Maureen (Mrs. John) Dean was hot.