# Mad-Men: 7.07 "Waterloo" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257 "2014-05-26T01:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/121 "2014-05-30T22:28:52Z")
As I recall, Pete called a friend with the government who said the check on SCDP was still in the first stages. Pete withdrew SCDP from consideration with North American so the background checks ended there. The government isn’t going to waste the time and resources checking people and contacting relatives, past businesses, etc just for kicks. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/122 "2014-05-31T06:18:21Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > As I recall, Pete called a friend with the government who said the check on SCDP was still in the first stages. Pete withdrew SCDP from consideration with North American so the background checks ended there. The government isn’t going to waste the time and resources checking people and contacting relatives, past businesses, etc just for kicks. No, but it could surface again if the truth ever comes out. In any case, it’s very suspicious that they would withdraw from such an account for no apparent reason, and the partners were not happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/123 "2014-05-31T06:21:48Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Pete didn’t “stonewall an official investigation,” he called off a perfunctory background check. And knowing someone may be using a different name is hardly grounds for charging them with conspiracy years later. He called off the background check before it turned into something more than perfunctory. And there were at least three easily verifiable lies in Don’s company personnel file. It wasn’t just a matter of him using a different name. Doesn’t this qualify as obstruction of justice? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/124 "2014-05-31T06:54:50Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Hmmm… maybe the series will end with the whole kit and kaboodle behind bars. With Don writing ad copy for the prison newspaper - and bombing. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/125 "2014-05-31T12:40:45Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > No, but it could surface again if the truth ever comes out. In any case, it’s very suspicious that they would withdraw from such an account for no apparent reason, and the partners were not happy about it. There was a reason. Pete said they had picked up another account to make a conflict of interest. That happens all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/126 "2014-05-31T13:38:18Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > He called off the background check before it turned into something more than perfunctory. And there were at least three easily verifiable lies in Don’s company personnel file. It wasn’t just a matter of him using a different name. Doesn’t this qualify as obstruction of justice? Does what qualify as obstruction of justice? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/127 "2014-05-31T15:32:46Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Does what qualify as obstruction of justice? Conspiring with Don to have the investigation called off in order to cover both their asses. Pete’s known about Don’s fraud and desertion since 1960, yet the only person he’s told is Bert, who (a) didn’t seem to care and (b) held it over Don’s head himself. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/128 "2014-05-31T15:35:04Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Conspiring with Don to have the investigation called off in order to cover both their asses. I don’t see how that is obstruction of justice. There was no criminal investigation to obstruct. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/129 "2014-05-31T15:35:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > There was a reason. Pete said they had picked up another account to make a conflict of interest. That happens all the time. And Pete lied to his friend. There was no conflicting account, as would become clear if the matter was ever investigated. When things like this start to unravel, they tend to unravel all the way. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/130 "2014-05-31T15:36:51Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I don’t see how that is obstruction of justice. There was no criminal investigation to obstruct. There wasn’t _yet_, because the crime was being covered up. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/131 "2014-05-31T15:42:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > There wasn’t _yet_, because the crime was being covered up. There’s a difference between aiding and abetting and obstruction of justice. And it’s not clear to me that withdrawing from consideration as a contractor and thus rendering a routine background check moot can actually be considered a criminal act. As someone said above, the statute if limitations for the desertion is long past. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/132 "2014-05-31T15:55:05Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > There’s a difference between aiding and abetting and obstruction of justice. > > And it’s not clear to me that withdrawing from consideration as a contractor and thus rendering a routine background check moot can actually be considered a criminal act. As someone said above, the statute if limitations for the desertion is long past. I’m not a lawyer (I’ll assume you are), but whatever the technical term is, I know that helping to cover up a crime is a crime in and of itself. I must have missed something along the way. Aside from identity theft and other forms of fraud, why is Don so afraid of being found out if there’s a statute of limitations on desertion? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/133 "2014-05-31T15:57:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I’m not a lawyer (I’ll assume you are), but whatever the technical term is, I know that helping to cover up a crime is a crime in and of itself. > > I must have missed something along the way. Aside from identity theft and other forms of fraud, why is Don so afraid of being found out if there’s a statute of limitations on desertion? I feel like you’re watching a different show than the rest of us. It does sound exciting, though. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/134 "2014-05-31T16:01:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Aside from identity theft and other forms of fraud, why is Don so afraid of being found out if there’s a statute of limitations on desertion? “Aside from identity theft and other forms of fraud”??? Didn’t you just answer your own question? Also, it would ruin his reputation and business. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/135 "2014-05-31T16:03:13Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > I feel like you’re watching a different show than the rest of us. It does sound exciting, though. Not really. It would seem I just have my own interpretation of it. I’m a pessimist. I always expect the worst because it saves time. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/136 "2014-05-31T16:04:25Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > “Aside from identity theft and other forms of fraud”??? Didn’t you just answer your own question? Also, it would ruin his reputation and business. So he’s \*not \*afraid of being nailed for desertion? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/137 "2014-05-31T16:12:52Z")
Don gained nothing by swapping identities with the real Don Draper except the chance to start a new life isolated and insulated from the horrible remnants of his past and family. The dead “Dick Whitman” closed his books there, and the injured “Don Draper” was legitimately rotated home and mustered out. As far as we can tell, he never took anything from the VA, not even what he would have been entitled to as an EM. So while he’s technically an outlaw and a forger, he could afford a lawyer to patch it up very smoothly… but at the cost of huge personal and career damage. I do hope Weiner handles it smoothly. After all, we make much of the “falling man” from the credits, but the dude does end up sitting pretty comfortably. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/138 "2014-05-31T16:13:20Z")
Put it this way: Whether or not he goes to Leavenworth for desertion, being exposed for it would open the door to any other crimes he may have committed, and the Feds are going to want to know who else had knowledge about them. If he takes a deep breath and says “No one,” I doubt they’re going to believe him. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/139 "2014-05-31T16:15:47Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I do hope Weiner handles it smoothly. After all, we make much of the “falling man” from the credits, but the dude does end up sitting pretty comfortably. And his world crumbling around him before he plummets to an almost certain death on the street below. :eek: Well, we’ll find out next year what happens. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257/140 "2014-05-31T16:27:48Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > And Pete lied to his friend. There was no conflicting account, as would become clear if the matter was ever investigated. But they wouldn’t investigate it. Obviously I can’t prove that in magical TV world they would never do so but this happened years ago, the government has no compelling interest in looking into it, the account was killed in a way to create no suspicion and there’s no rational reason to think that anyone remembers or cares about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-07-waterloo-open-spoilers/689257.md?page=8)