In the wake of the ‘Watergate’ scandal in the United States, which led to Richard Nixon’s resignation from the presidency in 1974, and a shock in the American political conception, many have staged the crisis of the 70’s through iconic stories, documentaries and movies.
(Enter the special: Watergate: 50 years since the scandal that brought down a president)
From great Oscar-winning feature films, to small appearances and cameos in other audiovisual representatives in history, Watergate continues to be one of the great themes to bring to Hollywood screens.
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Distributed by Lionsgate and premiered on the Starzplay platform, Gaslit is the latest television series to depict “untold stories” at Watergate, where Julia Roberts plays Martha Mitchell, wife of then-Attorney General John Mitchell, “best friend Nixon’s and close adviser to the former president.
With a good reception from critics, the series recounts the experience of a “woman left in oblivion”, but fundamental in the outcome of the most “embarrassing” story in American politics. According to historians, Martha helped John connect the dots in the theft of official documents during Nixon’s re-election campaign in ’72.
All the President’s Men
Of the most representative films about this fact, ‘All the President’s Men’ was released in 1976 and through a story through a journalistic investigation, he explains to the world how this scandal culminated in the resignation of Richard Nixon from the presidency of the United States.
Based on the book of the same name by Bob Woodward and performed by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, it has been recognized as a cultural and historical film and in which the investigative course of two Washington Post journalists to “uncover the facts” is represented.
The film also gives importance to ‘Deep Throat’, which would be the most important of the sources to discover Nixon’s links in this scandal.
Among other awards, this film won four Oscar categories, including the best adapted screenplay, valuing the work of AlanJ. Pakula directing and William Goldman as screenwriter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHg_OVJLFmg
the informer
Originally called ‘Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House’, it is a historical film centered on the mythical ‘Deep Throat’, an informant for the Washington Post about the theft of documents referring to the Watergate.
Starring Liam Neeson, who plays Felt, the film tells the story of the informant who turned out to be the FBI’s second-in-command, and his moral drama in revealing information about events that would shake up US politics.
Its premiere in 2017 allowed us to learn more about that informant who in 2005 wanted to escape anonymity, told in a somber context of crisis and controversy in North America, where Felt risked everything to do justice.
The Final Days
Premiered for television in 1989, The Final Days shows what Nixon, his political environment and his family experienced during the ‘Watergate’ investigation, within the framework of his re-election in 1973.
The film humanizes a president who in less than a year “loses everything”, reflecting the blow he suffered after the resignation of Theodore Agnew from the vice presidency and finally his resignation in 1994, to be succeeded by Gerald Ford on August 9, this year.
Nixon
Directed by Oliver Stone, Nixon is the biographical film of the 37th president of the United States, reflecting his childhood, maturity, entry into politics and controversial end in 1974, after resigning due to Watergate.
Starring Anthony Hopkins, it is embraced by critics as it is very close to the life of the controversial former president. Among others, it also highlights how Nixon helps end the cold war with Russia in the 20th century.
Frost vs. Nixon
Released in 2008 and featuring an all-star cast, this film directed by Ron Howard tells of that mythical series of four interviews between former President Richard Nixon and journalist David Frost in 1977.
With Frank Languella playing Nixon and Michael Sheen in the role of Frost, it is recounted how the intrepid journalist manages to talk with the former president about his life, but especially about that scandal that took him away from political life, and almost publishes, in a way anticipated.
At the Oscars he had five nominations, but failed to enter the final list of nominees, in an edition in which No Country For Old Mens was the winner.
Watergate
It is a 2018 miniseries that premiered for television, and handling the documentary format, shows how its director, Charles Ferguson, draws some parallels between former presidents Donald Trump (2017 – 2021) and Richard Nixon himself.
Ferguson goes to Watergate to expose the biggest political scandal in the United States, highlighting some important characters of the event, with first-hand testimonies, also deconstructing the personality of the controversial Nixon.
Other notable ‘cameos’
In 1994 the film ‘Forrest Gump’ puts the focus on important events in American history, with a charismatic Tom Hanks as the star of the film, and who from a window would be a “first-hand witness” of the theft of papers that “ended up with Nixon’s career.
In a scene of less than three minutes, Hanks, in the role of Forrest Gump, meets Nixon, denounces the facts and witnesses the president’s resignation four years later (1974).
Likewise, the figure of Nixon has been used in series such as The Simpsons or Futurama, to reflect the political life of the United States. In the case of the second, Nixon is “The president of the world”, having some sporadic appearances along with the main cast of the animated series.
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