The movement to restore Richard Nixon's greatness

During an August episode of HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher, activist Christopher Rufo surprised the audience by claiming that the Watergate scandal, which forced President Richard Nixon to resign, was orchestrated from beginning to end. The audience reacted with laughter. Host Bill Maher countered that abundant evidence proved Nixons culpability. Rufo argued that federal agencies had held illicit meetings and suggested a judge was biased against Nixon. Predicting the future, he declared with a smile, Nixon vindication by 2035.

Watergate is historically seen as a critical moment in exposing presidential misconduct, leading to reforms in government transparency and shaping journalism. Its name even spawned the -gate suffix for future political scandals. Today, some right-wing commentators, including advisors close to former President Donald Trump, reinterpret Watergate as a scheme by the deep state and media to undermine a popular Republican leader. Comparisons between Trumps controversies and Watergate have become frequent.

Historians and former Nixon officials suggest that if Watergate had occurred in todays media environment, with conservative outlets like Fox News, Nixon might have survived the scandal. Brendan Gillis of the American Historical Association observed that the new narrative seeks to rehabilitate Nixons image and reflects recent political developments.

Michael Koncewicz, historian and former Nixon Library staffer, warned against revisionism, emphasizing that Watergate has long symbolized the system working. He said altering public perception of Watergate could prevent accountability in future administrations.

Prominent conservative figures including Tucker Carlson, Michael Knowles, Steve Bannon, and institutions like Hillsdale College have promoted the reinterpretation of Watergate as a scam. Even actor Bill Murray suggested Nixon may have been framed during a podcast. Republican-led states like Idaho and Louisiana have used PragerU-produced videos in schools, presenting the scandal as a media attempt to reverse an election. Hugh Hewitt, on the Nixon Foundation board, argues Nixon faced bias due to his anti-communist stance.

After Rufos HBO appearance, PragerU CEO Marissa Streit endorsed his view, directing audiences to related content. Both Rufo and PragerU declined interviews but emphasized the Nixon era as key to understanding contemporary politics. Rufo described Nixon as pivotal for analyzing current issues such as left-wing movements, ideological conflicts, and political unrest.

Kenneth Hughes Jr., a Nixon audiotape expert, maintains that recordings clearly show Nixon orchestrating abuses of power. Nixons legacy is complex: as a congressman, he was a staunch anti-communist; as president, he opened relations with China, created the EPA, and signed Title IX into law. Yet he also initiated controversial policies, including a war on drugs. Nixons downfall stemmed from his administrations attempt to cover up the break-in at Democratic Party headquarters, which ultimately revealed other illegal acts.

The scandal was widely reported and immortalized in All the Presidents Men, detailing Washington Post reporters investigation. Nixon resigned in August 1974 as impeachment loomed.

Revisionist arguments concede wrongdoing by aides but assert Nixon was unaware until afterward. They claim the real scandal involved due process violations by prosecutors and judges. Bannon and Monica Crowley have drawn parallels between Nixons treatment and Trumps legal challenges.

Geoff Shepard, former Nixon administration lawyer, contends the smoking gun tape has been misinterpreted and highlights due process violations. He argues that lawfare started with Nixon, not Trump. Critics like Jill Wine-Banks, former Watergate prosecutor, reject these claims, citing tape evidence and legal records proving Nixons active involvement in the cover-up.

The Nixon Foundation has promoted the revisionist view, highlighting pundits who defend Nixon. Michael Knowles has linked Trumps investigations to a broader exoneration of Nixon. Historians, however, assert Nixon orchestrated the cover-up to shield himself, making the scandals lessons relevant today in assessing misuse of government power.

Author: Sophia Brooks