Watergate: Implications for Responsible GovernmentWorldview:Overview:Aberration, Extension, or Culmination?Aberration?Extension?Culmination?Watergate: how and whyPolitical climate:Climate: administrativeFindings:Recommendations:Did we seized the opportunity?Slide 14Slide 15Is there hope?The EndWatergate: Implications forResponsible GovernmentMaureen TremblayPA 302April 3, 2006Worldview:Shared concern that the competence and dependability of government be achieved and securedTo preserve the values that contribute to an effective and progressive social orderThe integrity of the leaders in every branch of government is necessary to secure and retain the confidence of the citizensOverview: Watergate had a shattering impact upon our government at all levelsGrowing disillusionment, cynicism, and contempt for government and politicsReevaluation of our political and administrative systems and application of appropriate remedies must be undertakenAberration, Extension, or Culmination?Aberration?Watergate was a product of a systemPractices of the systemUse of governmental powers and resources in behalf of friends, against enemiesPoliticization of the career servicesPolitical espionage on American citizensExcessive secrecy, usually on the grounds of national security Use of governmental personnel and resources for partisan purposesSolicitation of political contributions Dirty tricksExtension?Consequence of trends in the larger systems of our societyDecline in social mortality and the influences of the churchesWeakening of the family unit and personal responsibilityIncreasing power of the national governmentIncreasing prevalence of both public and private bureaucracies Growing dominance of technologyCulmination?Watergate: how and why“Presidential power, its enlargement, its exploitation, and its continuation.”Political climate:“It was evident that the imperative to reelect was so driving as to override many other considerations, including the public interest and normal ethical and legal constraints.”The White House became the command post for conduct by the President’s staff of near warfare against those whom it considered “enemies.”Climate: administrativeUsurpation by the White House of power over both policy and day-to-day operations heretofore carried on in the departments and other established agencies;Enormous growth of the White House staff, accompanied by the establishment of a tight hierarchy within it; Veiling of White House activities on grounds of national security or executive privilege;Findings:“The administrative and political aspects of the governmental climate were increasingly interlocked… together they constituted a critical threat to many of the values and protections Americans associate with a democratic system of government”Recommendations:The educational institutions around the nation, especially those professional schools which provide significant numbers of public officials, focus more attention on public service ethicsDid we seized the opportunity?“___ was an inevitable outgrowth of a climate of excessive concern over the political impact of demonstrations, excessive concern over leaks, and insatiable appetite for political intelligence all coupled with a do-it-yourself White House staff regardless of the law.”Is there hope?The