Dear President Nixon: Re-examining public correspondence during the Watergate scandal.

This article re-examines public correspondence sent to President Richard Nixon during the spring of 1973, a pivotal period in the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to his resignation. Analyzing nearly 400 letters from diverse geographic regions and coded by gender, partisan support, and stance on the Watergate investigation, the study finds that more men than women wrote to Nixon and that letters originated broadly across the United States. While a slight majority of identifiable letters expressed support for Nixon, an overwhelming consensus favored an independent investigation into the scandal. Additionally, many letters addressed policy issues, predominantly macroeconomics and international affairs, reflecting public engagement with Nixon’s broader presidential agenda amid the unfolding crisis. This research highlights the role of public opinion mail as a nuanced source for understanding citizen attitudes during a major political scandal and the administration’s strategic use of such correspondence.