Worse than Watergate? The lasting impact of the Nixon scandal.

This article examines the enduring significance of the Watergate scandal in American presidential history by analyzing a 2023 expert survey of presidential scholars. The findings indicate that Watergate remains the most consequential presidential scandal, surpassing others such as Iran–Contra and the Trump–Ukraine scandal, particularly due to its direct role in President Nixon’s resignation and its lasting impact on political reforms and public trust. Personal scandals involving presidents, including the Clinton–Lewinsky affair and Donald Trump’s extramarital controversies, are generally viewed as less impactful than scandals involving abuse of power or political corruption. The study also reveals that scholars’ assessments of presidential greatness influence how they perceive the importance of associated scandals, with scandals linked to highly rated presidents often considered less significant. Overall, Watergate continues to serve as the defining benchmark against which all subsequent presidential scandals are measured.