3. Watergate and the Deep State
The Watergate scandal shattered public trust in the U.S. government, unveiling a web of illegal surveillance, political espionage, and cover-ups that led to President Nixon’s resignation. This unprecedented exposure of corruption at the highest levels sparked ongoing fears of a so-called “deep state”—a hidden network manipulating power behind the scenes. Watergate’s legacy endures, influencing how subsequent scandals are perceived and investigated. Its revelations continue to inspire suspicion toward government institutions, marking a turning point in American political consciousness.
