Vice-president JD Vance has asserted that the Watergate scandal, which forced Richard Nixon from office in 1974, would not survive a single news cycle in today's polarized media landscape. Speaking at the Richard Nixon presidential library in Yorba Linda, California, on Thursday, Vance promoted his new book Communion and discussed his spiritual journey from atheism to Catholicism before voicing his admiration for the 37th president.
Watergate as a '12-Hour News Story'
“If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be a 12-hour news story,” Vance said during the discussion. “The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy.” Watergate, the most consequential US political scandal of the 20th century, began with a 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters by operatives linked to Nixon's re-election campaign. It ultimately led to Nixon's resignation to avoid impeachment and removal from office.
Parallels Between Nixon and Trump
Vance drew a direct line between Nixon's downfall and what he described as efforts to undermine Donald Trump. “If you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon, it's not all that different from what the same groups of people the same institutions tried to do to Donald Trump in the first administration. There is a parallel,” he said. Trump was impeached twice: first for allegedly pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, and second for inciting the January 6 Capitol riot after his election loss.
Nixon's Legacy and Vance's Ambitions
Vance argued that Nixon's legacy is “enjoying a bit of a renaissance,” citing his diplomatic achievements in ending the Vietnam War and opening relations with China. He called Nixon a “political genius” and listed traits they share: “Young senator. Vice-president. Writes some bestselling books. Is hated by the media. It kind of sounds like JD Vance.” Vance, widely seen as a 2028 presidential contender, omitted Nixon's most famous role—president—from his comparison.
