Remember the lessons of Watergate — so we’re not doomed to relearn them

On Aug. 9, 1974, Richard M. Nixon resigned as president. He was facing an impeachment vote resulting from Congress’s investigation into the Watergate scandal. But Nixon’s resignation wasn’t the only major consequence of the lengthy and detailed investigation into Watergate.

Congress also passed numerous laws to protect against such conduct in the future and to reestablish confidence in the ethical operation of government.

Some of these included establishing the Federal Election Commission and setting limits on political contributions; strengthening the Freedom of Information Act, giving the public greater access to government information; passing the Sunshine Act, which requires federal agencies governed by more than one member to have their meetings open to the public; and passing the Ethics in Government Act.

Congress also established inspector general offices in federal agencies to identify and hence avoid or stop waste, fraud and abuse, and passed the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act to bar presidents from refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress.

Watergate was a tumultuous event that brought down a president in shame and rattled the public’s confidence in our federal........

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