FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2023-94 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (May 17, 2023) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps from Steve Kovacs, we revisit Watergate on a special anniversary of the significant moment in U.S. political history.

Too Much Freedom

The Congressional Watergate hearings began 50 years ago, on May 17, 1973. 

We all know the basics; about the cover-up, and the eventual resignation of President Nixon, aka Tricky Dick.  But, few know the details.

The reason the night guard called police on June 17, 1972 was not because he saw people entering the Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate complex, but because he saw the lock mechanism on a door leading to the basement garage was re-taped.  He removed the tape he saw earlier in the night, but thought nothing of it the first time.  The second time was different.

The police responding in an unmarked car were dressed as hippies, hoping to bust drug deals in Washington, but they did catch a bigger fish that night.

Contrary to journalists’ and politicians’ assertions following the break-in, the specific reason why the break-in occurred was never fully established and validated – other than the overarching reason to collect “dirt” on Democrats.  There were too many contradictory statements and evidence presented.

The best response by a foreign politician, in my view, came from China’s Chairman Mao: Watergate is “the result of too much freedom of political expression in the U.S.”

This map of Washington and Georgetown is from 1855 and was created by Colton.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.