Apologies for the break! It has been a busy summer, and now that I actually have work to do at my new job, I haven’t had that time to work on this. But I will try to get back in the habit.
This bumper sticker became available in January of 1974. It could be ordered from an advertisement in newspapers for 35 cents. I was surprised by the timeline of Nixon’s presidency and the Watergate scandal once I started looking into it. The break-in occurred in June of 1972, and by October, the Washington Post reported that the FBI had linked it to Nixon’s reelection efforts. Still, Nixon was reelected a month later by a 60%-margin. In the first half of 1973, multiple members of his staff and/or campaign team are convicted or plead guilty to various crimes related to the political sabotage, including wiretapping, conspiracy, and burglary. Nationally televised hearings by the Senate Watergate committee begin. Later in the year, American’s saw Saturday Night Massacre and the famous “I am not a crook” address.
And still, it wasn’t until July 27, 1974 that the first three articles of impeachment were passed.
Looking at Nixon’s approval vs. disapproval ratings throughout his two terms, they remain relatively high until mid-1973 — even tying the highest rate (67%) on January 29, 1973, one day before aides G. Gordon Liddy and James W. McCord Jr. were convicted for their crimes related to Watergate. His approval ratings remained higher than his disapproval ratings until June 25, 1973, which was two days after he refused to turn over the infamous tapes.
It is interesting how long it took for impeachment to come into the picture, given how easily the word is thrown around today. I also think the language of the bumper sticker shows quite a difference between then vs. now — “because I love my country” not, “because I hate the president.” The two feelings aren’t mutually exclusive by any means, but judging by Nixon’s approval ratings, most Americans didn’t seem to especially hate him throughout most of the Watergate scandal — more even liked him than disliked him, until he showed active deception by refusing to release the tapes.
But then, there was no Twitter or 24/7 news cycle in the ’70s. That seems to change things.
Grandma's Buttons 