I understand this is a delicate topic so I will try to be gentle.
I’ll start with some trivia questions.
- What event happened on June 17, 1972, changing U.S history forever?
- Who was “Deep Throat?”
- Which President was re-elected on November 7, 1972?
- On May 17, 1973, what began with the entire world paying attention?
- Why is Saturday night October 20, 1973, historically important?
- Who told the world in 1973 “I am not a crook!”
If you know these answers you likely are one of two things: at least 65 years old, or a history buff of sorts.
On June 17 of 72 Republican “plumbers” broke into the Democratic campaign headquarters in the Watergate Hotel.
Deep Throat was Bob Woodward’s notorious source for the Watergate story.
President Richard Nixon was re-elected 0n November 7, 1972.
The “Saturday Night Massacre” was when Richard Nixon went through 3 U.S. Attorney Generals in an attempt to find someone willing to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox.
May 17 of 73 marked the beginning of the “Watergate Hearings.”
And of course, it was President Nixon who claimed “I am not a crook!
The story ended with Richard Nixon becoming the only American President to resign. President Ford pardoned him a month later.
There is a lot more to the Watergate story and I suggest Wikipedia as a factual source.
I know where I was for most of those 2 weeks in May of 73 – in my office at my clothing store at 710 Commercial watching with several local business people as those hearings were “must-see TV!”
It’s a much different story with the current January 6 hearings drawing less than 20 million viewers last Thursday during prime time. Heck, Macey’s Thanksgiving parade had more viewers.
My point is this: Some believe the future of American Democracy is in the balance. Wouldn’t it be a shame if most of us weren’t even paying attention?
That was not a political statement and hopefully, it won’t turn out to be a historically significant one.
The next January 6th Hearing session is today starting at nine.***
I’m Steve Sauder
***The Jan 6. Committee postponed Wednesdays hearing until Thursday
