Aftermath and Consequences
Charles Colson pleaded guilty to charges and in exchange, the indictment against him for covering up the activities of the Committee to Re-elect the President was dropped, as it was against Strachan. The remaining five members of the Watergate Seven indicted in March went on trial in October 1974. On January 1, 1975, all but Parkinson were found guilty. Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Mitchell stopped their appeals in 1977. Ehrlichman entered prison in 1976, followed by the other two in 1977. The Watergate scandal resulted in 69 government officials being charged and 48 being found guilty.
There were many consequences that followed the Watergate Scandal. As a result of the cover up, the Republican Party was given a black eye, Congress attempted to limit presidential power, and it reinforced American perceptions of government. With the presidency temporarily weakened, the Soviets expanded their revolution and the Vietnam War reignited. The scandal helped wipe out a generation of Republican politicians leading to a power vacuum later filled by the New Right, which advocated less government, lower taxes, and more libertarian views. In addition to the political fallout, Watergate also led to attempts to reform campaign funding and limit presidential power. The public wanted to limit campaign funding after the Nixon campaign's excesses. Congress also moved to limit the president’s ability to balance the budget and check congressional spending. Despite reform attempts, Watergate severely weakened public faith in government. By the mid-1970s, people viewed the government as being out of control and began to revolt against the incompetence and corruption. In the end, the Watergate scandal realigned global and domestic politics until President Reagan came along to restore faith.
There were many consequences that followed the Watergate Scandal. As a result of the cover up, the Republican Party was given a black eye, Congress attempted to limit presidential power, and it reinforced American perceptions of government. With the presidency temporarily weakened, the Soviets expanded their revolution and the Vietnam War reignited. The scandal helped wipe out a generation of Republican politicians leading to a power vacuum later filled by the New Right, which advocated less government, lower taxes, and more libertarian views. In addition to the political fallout, Watergate also led to attempts to reform campaign funding and limit presidential power. The public wanted to limit campaign funding after the Nixon campaign's excesses. Congress also moved to limit the president’s ability to balance the budget and check congressional spending. Despite reform attempts, Watergate severely weakened public faith in government. By the mid-1970s, people viewed the government as being out of control and began to revolt against the incompetence and corruption. In the end, the Watergate scandal realigned global and domestic politics until President Reagan came along to restore faith.