Slow Burn: Watergate
Episode 3 – “A Very Successful Cover-Up”
Date: December 12, 2017
Host: Leon Neyfakh
Episode Overview
This episode delves into how President Nixon’s re-election campaign orchestrated a campaign of subterfuge, sabotage, and psychological warfare to help shape his 1972 opponent—and how, despite mounting evidence of wrongdoing, the Watergate scandal failed to capture the public’s imagination before the election. The episode unpacks the tactics, the bizarre sense of indifference among the electorate, and the beginnings of a political cover-up so effective it almost disappeared from view.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Manipulating the Opposition (00:32 – 03:55)
- Democratic Primary Sabotage: Nixon viewed Senator Ed Muskie as his greatest threat. His team worked covertly to ensure George McGovern—seen as easier to beat—would win the Democratic nomination.
- Astroturfing & Spying:
- Bob Woodward (01:17): “They hired a man named Elmer Wyatt, who was Muskie’s chauffeur…Wyatt rented an apartment, a Xerox machine, and then would stop and make copies of everything and send them to the Nixon campaign.”
- Petty & Sinister Tricks:
- Stealing Shoes (02:03): “Members of Nixon’s team sneaked into a hotel where the Muskie people were staying, stole all their shoes from the hallway and threw them in a dumpster.”
- Race-Baiting Phone Calls: Hired callers impersonated Muskie supporters with “black accents,” designed to alienate white voters in New Hampshire.
- Astroturfing & Spying:
- Psychological Warfare’s Toll:
- Planted a fake “Canuck letter” smearing Muskie and an article insulting his wife’s manners.
- Muskie’s emotional public reaction (03:15):
“By attacking me, by attacking my wife, he has proved himself to be a gutless coward. It’s fortunate for him he’s not on this platform beside me.”
— Senator Ed Muskie (03:15) - Media portrayed Muskie as weak; his campaign never recovered.
2. Watergate: The Invisible Scandal (03:55 – 05:30)
- Despite FBI investigations and Post reports on clandestine sabotage, the public remained largely indifferent.
- Gallup Poll: “48% of Americans had never even heard of Watergate” (04:56)
- Even with clear evidence of corruption—break-ins, sabotage, and financial links—Watergate wasn’t a campaign issue.
- Muskie’s Lawsuit Threat:
“Senator Edmund Muskie said he is thinking about suing President Nixon’s reelection committee and certain White House officials. He thinks they may have violated his civil rights through political espionage and sabotage of his unsuccessful campaign.”
— News broadcast, October 12, 1972 (04:18)
- Congressman Patman: Delivered a fiery speech (not detailed here) condemning White House non-cooperation—a sign the truth was out there, just ignored.
3. Why Didn’t Watergate Matter? (04:56 – 05:46)
- Public Indifference: Leon Nayfakh wonders aloud why, in retrospect, such sensational stories barely registered.
“In retrospect, it’s really hard to understand why…Interparty warfare, corruption, sabotage. Why didn’t it captivate the electorate the way it captivates us now?...How did people not realize what a big deal this was?”
— Leon Neyfakh (04:56) - The episode promises to uncover how Nixon’s cover-up proved “very successful,” keeping the scandal from becoming the election’s decisive issue.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Bob Woodward on Nixon’s Spy in Muskie’s Camp (01:17):
“Wyatt rented an apartment, a Xerox machine, and then would stop and make copies of everything and send them to the Nixon campaign.”
- Leon Neyfakh on Muskie’s Collapse (03:15):
“As he spoke, Muskie appeared to break down in tears. The Washington Post described him as standing silent in the near blizzard, rubbing at his face, his shoulders heaving, while he attempted to regain his composure sufficiently to speak.”
- Muskie’s Public Rebuke (03:15):
“By attacking me, by attacking my wife, he has proved himself to be a gutless coward. It’s fortunate for him he’s not on this platform beside me.”
— Senator Ed Muskie - Leon Neyfakh Summarizes National Mood (04:56):
“Most people just didn’t really care…Months after the break in, a Gallup poll found that 48% of Americans had never even heard of Watergate.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:32 – Nixon’s fear of Muskie and manipulation of the Democratic primary
- 01:17 – Bob Woodward details campaign espionage tactics
- 02:03 – Petty pranks and sabotage against Muskie’s campaign
- 03:15 – Muskie’s emotional press conference and unraveling
- 04:18 – Muskie considers legal recourse for sabotage
- 04:56 – Host reflects on Watergate’s lack of impact on public consciousness
- 05:46 – Episode title and transition to the central theme of the cover-up’s success
Tone & Style
Leon Neyfakh’s narration is investigative and reflective, blending vivid storytelling with incredulity over the public’s muted reaction—“How did people not realize what a big deal this was?” Archival news audio and interviews lend the episode a sense of intimate historical immediacy, with both wry humor and a sense of gathering outrage.
Summary Takeaway
“A Very Successful Cover-Up” shows how Watergate’s initial revelations failed to make political waves, thanks to Nixon’s campaign of deception and a striking lack of public awareness or outrage. By illuminating the mechanics and impact of both sabotage and indifference, this episode sets the stage for understanding a scandal that would eventually shake the nation—but was, for a time, hidden in plain sight.