# How would Nixon be remembered, if not for Watergate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 6, 2003, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682 "2003-11-06T09:13:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/1 "2003-11-06T09:13:33Z")
Alternate universe time. Let’s assume that in _this_ scenario, Nixon either a) Didn’t go through with the Watergate burglary, or b) He still had his people go through with it, but this time, they didn’t get caught. How, then, would ol’ “Tricky Dick” be remembered today? Good president? Bad one? “That guy with the funny face who went before the peanut farmer?” So…any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/2 "2003-11-06T11:28:59Z")
I think he would still be remembered for reneging on his election pledges to end the American intervention in Vietnam, and his attempts to ‘neutralise’ the growing anti-war protestors. I’ll not comment on his arguably rather more successful domestic policies. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/3 "2003-11-06T11:31:29Z")
He would also be remembered for opening relations with what was still at that time called Red China… ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/4 "2003-11-06T11:49:24Z")
Even from this side of the puddle, Dicky was a dangerously loose cannon. Were there any other Presidents so close to being certifiably insane? However if you were to erase Watergate, then undoubtably his China policy was visionary. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/5 "2003-11-06T12:03:04Z")
And don’t forget his pioneering work in HUAC. Protecting America from those godless Commies! Bugger was nasty even then. ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Fish_Mouth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/6 "2003-11-06T16:05:09Z")
As others have mentioned, Nixon’s detente with China and the Soviet Union would have been his most enduring legacy. Domestically, Nixon had a very good record on the environment, but his domestic achievements were far outweighed by the Watergate debacle. And speaking from an electoral demographic perspective, Nixon helped realign the Republican party as the party of the “forgotten middle class.” In the 1968 election he successfully portrayed the Democratic party as the party of radicals and anti-war protestors. His Southern Strategy brought in millions of Republican votes from the traditionally Democratic southern states. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/7 "2003-11-06T16:08:52Z")
“Watergate” was quite a bit more than a burglary. There was the enemies list, the use of the FBI and IRS for harassment purposes, the stonewalling, numerous lesser abuses of power, and that’s without even getting into intensifying and prolonging the Vietnam War instead of pulling out, and its secret extension into Cambodia. You’re asking about the defining characteristics of his administration and his persona, not one isolated misjudgment. So yes, even without that burglary, he’d be remembered about the same. If Woodward and Bernstein hadn’t broken the story, somebody else would have and the effect would be the same. ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Fish_Mouth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/8 "2003-11-06T16:19:57Z")
**ElvisL1ves** , just had to add that Nixon was also the first and only president to invite Elvis to the White House. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/9 "2003-11-06T17:04:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baby Fish Mouth \* > \*\ ***ElvisL1ves** , just had to add that Nixon was also the first and only president to invite Elvis to the White House. 🙂 \*\* Yeah, and he made him an honorary narcotics officer. 🙂 I wonder how many narcotics Elvis happened to be on at the time. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/10 "2003-11-06T21:09:00Z")
How would Clinton be remembered, if not for Lewinsky? How would Hoover be remembered, if not for Boulder/Hoover Dam? How would JFK be remembered, if not for Cuber? How would JFK Jr. be remembered, if not for Teddy fishing his plane out of the drink? How would Teddy be remembered, if not for Mary Jo? How would Bush 1 be remembered, if not for stopping short of Baghdad? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/11 "2003-11-06T21:18:30Z")
With Teddy, it was a car, not a plane, but what the hell. Yes, you can play what-if as much as you like, but it leaves the realm of usefulness pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/12 "2003-11-06T21:18:30Z")
With Teddy, it was a car, not a plane, but what the hell. Yes, you can play what-if as much as you like, but it leaves the realm of usefulness pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![jimbino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9bcb4/32.png) [@jimbino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbino)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/13 "2003-11-06T22:00:16Z")
I remember Nixon as the only Republican who could stomach wage and price controls and create a gasoline shortage. Fortunately, I was in Germany at the time, and we had no shortage because they let the price rise – good Republican move for those Socialists! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/14 "2003-11-06T22:15:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jimbino \* > \*\*I remember Nixon as the only Republican who could stomach wage and price controls and create a gasoline shortage. Fortunately, I was in Germany at the time, and we had no shortage because they let the price rise – good Republican move for those Socialists! \*\* Ahhhh, you beat me to it. For those not alive at the time, I think it’s hard to imagine **any president** , much less a Pubbie, imposing wage and price controls in peacetime. Power corrupts, absolute power… Nixon reminds me a bit of Clinton in that just hearing him talk makes me want to put my hand on my wallet. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/15 "2003-11-06T22:16:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I think he would still be remembered for reneging on his election pledges to end the American intervention in Vietnam, What the hell are you talking about? Which campaign? The last American soldiers left Vietnam in March of 1973, I believe. Nixon didn’t resign until August of 1974. True, he promised in 1969 to withdraw 80 thousand some troops by the end of that year, and while that may or may not have actually happened, the withdrawal wasn’t a campaign promise. Nixon was elected in 1968 and again in 1972. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c37758/32.png) [@Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Owes_Bess)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/16 "2003-11-07T00:17:45Z")
> [@](#): > > - originally from Ranchoth\* > > Nixon either a) Didn’t go through with the Watergate burglary, If that is what you believe Nixon and co. were accused of then it is definitely alternative universe time. The most significant outcome would have been that we would never have heard of Woodward, Bernstein or their anonymous and, most probably, fictitious source whom they named: “Deep Throat”. Other than that, events would probably have continued to happen roughly as before. Carter would have still managed to win one election, whether or not Gerald Ford won the Republican nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/17 "2003-11-07T05:38:56Z")
I’ve got news for you. Outside of the U.S., Nixon is not only fondly remembered, but he’s probably one of the most known and most internationally popular of all U.S. Presidents in the 20th century. “When they look back, and think, on everything he’s done… they will realize… Nixon’s the one!” - Mono Puff ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/18 "2003-11-07T06:43:41Z")
Nixon was a two-term president. He had some positive achievements, like the opening of talks to China. He had some bad decisions as well - wage and price controls is a big one. He would have been remembered like all other Presidents - Partisans of both sides would have had enough ammo to bitch about him, but overall he’d be remembered fondly, especially with time when partisan fervor fades somewhat. A century from now, the roster of most important presidents of the 20th century will be Truman, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Reagan. And maybe Woodrow Wilson. The rest of them were ‘caretaker’ Presidents that never achieved much aside from keep the country running. Nixon would be remembered only for Watergate, so if you take that away there isn’t much more. He’d probably only really be remembered in the context of the Vietnam war, and he still will be. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/19 "2003-11-07T06:57:59Z")
I think he’d be remembered for his appearances on _Futurama_. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682/20 "2003-11-07T07:09:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spingears \* > **How would Hoover be remembered, if not for Boulder/Hoover Dam?** [ul]😃 [sup] **You obviously know nothing about the Great Depression and who was made the scapegoat!** [/sup][/ul] And yes I remember Nixon and the price and wage controls. That taught me more than Economics 101 and 102 together. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-nixon-be-remembered-if-not-for-watergate/211682.md?page=2)