Five burglars broke into the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. fifty years ago. It was one the most famous moments in American political history.
There’s another side to this scandal that you may not have heard of, one that has far-reaching consequences.
A D.C. lawyer discovered that the burglars had been paid in part through secret donations to Nixon’s campaign. He began a search for the answers. His efforts made huge changes to the way we pay for elections. It also had unintended effects, which eventually led to multi-billion-dollar elections today.
Music: “School Dancer,” and “Summon the Spirits.”
You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and NPR One.
Apply to become a fall/winter intern at Planet Money or The Indicator in 2022.
Get bonus episodes of Planet Money by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
You want economic stories right from your home? Get Planet Money’s weekly newsletter.
