I am not a crook–RMN
If Nixon goes free, no one should be found guilty of anything–prospective juror to Detroit Recorder’s Court judge shortly after Nixon resigned.
The Watergate scandal followed the arrest of burglars at the Democratic National Committee office in 1972. Subsequently, President Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment; 48 government officials were found guilty, including:
- John N. Mitchell, Attorney General, later Director of “Committee to Re-elect the President”
- Richard Kleindienst, Attorney General
- Jeb Stuart Magruder, Deputy Director of “Committee to Re-elect the President”
- Frederick C. LaRue, Adviser to John Mitchell
- H. R. Haldeman, Chief of Staff for Nixon
- John Ehrlichman, Counsel to Nixon
- Egil Krogh, aide to John Ehrlichman
- John W. Dean III, counsel to Nixon
- Dwight L. Chapin, deputy assistant to Nixon
- Maurice Stans, Finance Chairman of “Committee to Re-elect the President”
- Herbert W. Kalmbach, personal attorney to Nixon
- Charles W. Colson, special counsel to Nixon,
- Herbert L. Porter, aide to the “Committee to Re-elect the President”
- G. Gordon Liddy, Special Investigations Group
- E. Howard Hunt, security consultant
President Nixon left Washington; Vice President Gerald Ford became President. Ford, who had been appointed VP by Nixon, later pardoned Nixon for his crimes. I understand why Nixon was pardoned, but the pardon left the impression that justice was not done–Nixon escaped conviction and possible punishment while 48 of his associates did not.
I have the same feeling today–in face of repeated lies, conviction of his associates, and multiple charges of wrongdoing, the “Summary of the Mueller Report” by Attorney General Barr, whom Trump appointed as AG, allows President Trump to claim vindication while scandal still rages, while his associates are convicted and punished.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_scandal
New NY 23rd 
The big difference , of course, is the Republican party. Before Reagan, the GOP was the party of the Constitution, fiscal responsibility, the law and support for small business. Over the years it has morphed into a rightwing extremist cult, with Trump now at the head. There are virtually no GOPers in the Senate who we can call men of principle. Trump knows that, which is why he does not fear impeachment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Red/Blue divide is another difference–In 1972 Republicans feared that Nixon would cost them at the polls; in 2019, they hope that Trump will remain popular with Republican voters in Red states.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_United_States_elections
LikeLike
Before Reagan, the GOP also defended “extremism in defense of liberty;” it was the party of “Dr. Strangelove,” of the “domino theory,” of “better dead than red,” of going slow on civil rights.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Barry Goldwater warned us that the GOP was becoming a vile political party controlled by religious nuts. .One of his statements:
“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they’re sure trying to do so, it’s going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can’t and won’t compromise. I know, I’ve tried to deal with them.” (Personal communication with John Dean).
https://josephurban.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/barry-destroys-the-gop/
LikeLiked by 1 person
In 1964, I saw Goldwater as a dangerous militarist. By 1994, when the above quote is dated, he seems much more reasonable than he did then. In 1964 two coworkers threatened to dump me on the highway when I foolishly admitted I intended to vote for Johnson.
LikeLike