This year marks the 50th anniversary of the infamous Watergate scandal. While AEI had no involvement in the June 17, 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, a few of our scholars did play a role in the Watergate affair’s post-mortem. The winter 1973 edition of AEI’s colorful newsletter called “Memorandum” provides the details from which this account comes.
By the early 1970s, AEI was coming to prominence under the leadership of William J. Baroody, Sr. One indication of the Institute’s growing influence came when the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (aka the Watergate Committee) requested AEI scholars ”assist in assessing the major legislative implications of the evidence developed by the Watergate hearings.” Senators Howard Baker (R-TN) and Sam Ervin (D-SC), co-chairs of the Watergate committee said, “the judgments of the members of your group will help us focus on the major issues, particularly since they will come from a nonpartisan group whose interest lies in improvement of our government.”
Another indication of AEI’s growing clout was the Ford Foundation’s willingness to support part of AEI’s Watergate endeavors through a generous grant. The Watergate Committee wanted to know about any key problems or issues that were uncovered by the Committee’s investigation into the matter. They were also keenly interested on learning what alternatives might feasibly be open to the Committee and its staff in writing final recommendations.
In the months following our scholars’ support of the Committee, AEI published a book, Watergate and the Law—Political Campaigns and Presidential Power, written by Yale Law School professor Ralph Winter. The book discussed, among other things, campaign finance and the possible need for a “carefully drafted” statute relating to political espionage. Winter concluded that presidential power has, to a large degree, resulted from congressional delegation of power to the president. Winter wrote: “If Congress’s obvious first step is to refrain from further strengthening of the presidency, its second is to strengthen itself.”
Three videos from the discussions held on AEI’s investigations of issues related to Watergate are below. They provide a unique look into policy debate following a presidential scandal, and offer some very interesting guidance to policymakers today.
Watergate, the courts, and impeachment
March 13–14, 1974: This AEI Round Table engages seven experts on politics and law in a searching consideration of the broad question: has Watergate revealed the need for basic reforms in the institutions and processes of American government and politics? The participants begin by exploring the advisability of proposed reforms in the area of campaign financing and spending.
Watergate & the political process
March 13–14, 1974: This AEI Round Table engages seven experts on politics and law in a searching consideration of the broad question: Has Watergate revealed the need for basic reforms in the institutions and processes of American government and politics? They also look closely at the scope of presidential powers and consider the wisdom of changing the structure and function of the American presidency.
Watergate and the law
March 14, 1974 — In closing, they exchange views on the reach of the impeachment power and on the definition of impeachable offenses. Alexander M. Bickel, Chancellor Kent professor of law and legal history at Yale Law School, leads the discussions. The other participants are Charles S. Hyneman, Richard M. Scammon, Harry H. Wellington, Aaron B. Wildavsky, James Q. Wilson, and Ralph K. Winter, Jr..
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