Reactions Watergate scandal

1 reactions

1.1 australia
1.2 china
1.3 japan
1.4 singapore
1.5 soviet union
1.6 united kingdom
1.7 other international reactions
1.8 domestic reactions

reactions
australia

australian prime minister gough whitlam criticised watergate scandal during question time in may 1973. 2 years later, in november 1975, australia experienced own constitutional crisis led dismissal of whitlam australian governor-general, sir john kerr.

china

chinese then-premier zhou enlai said in october 1973 scandal did not affect relations between china , united states. according thai then-prime minister kukrit pramoj of thailand in july 1975, chairman mao zedong called watergate scandal result of freedom of political expression in u.s. mao called indication of american isolationism, saw disastrous europe. further said, americans want go isolationist? ... in 2 world wars, americans came [in] late, same, did come in. haven t been isolationist in practice.

japan

in august 1973, then-prime minister kakuei tanaka said scandal had no cancelling influence on u.s. leadership in world. tanaka further said, pivotal role of united states has not changed, internal affair not permitted have effect. in march 1975, tanaka s successor, takeo miki, said @ convention of liberal democratic party, @ time of watergate issue in america, moved scene in house judiciary committee, each member of committee expressed own or own heart based upon spirit of american constitution. attitude, think, rescued american democracy.

singapore

then-prime minister lee kuan yew said in august 1973, 1 surprising revelation follows @ senate hearings on watergate, becomes increasingly clear district of columbia (washington d.c.), today in no position offer moral or strong political , economic leadership friends , allies yearning. moreover, lee said scandal may have led united states lessen interests , commitments in world affairs, weaken ability enforce paris peace accords on vietnam, , not react violations of accords. lee said further united states makes future of peace in indonesia extremely bleak 1 grave consequence contiguous states. lee blamed scandal economic inflation in singapore because singapore dollar pegged united states dollar @ time, assuming u.s. dollar stronger british pound sterling.

soviet union

in june 1973, when brezhnev arrived in united states have one-week meeting nixon, brezhnev told press, not intend refer matter—[the watergate]. indecent me refer it. ... attitude toward mr. nixon of great respect. when 1 reporter suggested nixon , position brezhnev weakened scandal, brezhnev replied, not enter mind think whether mr. nixon has lost or gained influence because of affair. said further had respected nixon because of nixon s realistic , constructive approach soviet union–united states relations ... passing era of confrontation era of negotiations between nations .

united kingdom

talks between nixon , prime minister edward heath may have been bugged. heath did not publicly display anger, aides saying unconcerned having been bugged @ white house. according officials, heath commonly had notes taken of public discussions nixon recording not have bothered him. however, officials privately said if private talks nixon bugged, heath outraged. so, heath privately outraged on being taped without prior knowledge.

other international reactions

iranian then-shah mohammad reza pahlavi told press in 1973, want quite emphatically ... weaken or jeopardize president s power make decisions in split seconds represent grave danger whole world. unnamed kenyan senior official of foreign affairs ministry accused nixon of lacking interest in africa , politics , said, american president enmeshed in domestic problems created watergate foreign policy seems have taken seat [sic]. cuban then-leader fidel castro said in december 1974 interview that, of crimes committed cuban exiles, killings, attacks on cuban ports, , spying, watergate burglaries , wiretappings least of [them].

domestic reactions

after fall of saigon ended vietnam war, secretary of state henry kissinger said in may 1975 that, if scandal had not caused nixon resign, , congress had not overridden nixon s veto of war powers resolution, north vietnam not have captured south vietnam. kissinger told national press club in january 1977 nixon s presidential powers weakened during tenure, (rephrased media) prevent[ing] united states exploiting [scandal].

the publisher of sacramento union, john p. mcgoff, said in january 1975 media overemphasized scandal, though called important issue, overshadowing more serious topics, declining economy , energy crisis.