BUS265: Business Ethics - Analyzing the Watergate Scandal Presentation

This presentation examines the Watergate Scandal, a pivotal event in American history, focusing on its implications for business ethics. It details the scandal's origins, involving the arrest of burglars at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, and the subsequent revelation of President Nixon's involvement in political spying. The presentation identifies the public and Nixon himself as victims, highlighting the role of Mark Felt (Deep Throat) in uncovering the truth. It outlines the laws broken, including federal wiretapping laws, and discusses the impact of Felt's actions, leading to Nixon's resignation and the indictment of numerous officials. The presentation further explores how effective business ethics could have prevented the scandal and examines relevant laws, such as the 2015 USA Freedom Act and the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which could have addressed the issues. References to the sources used are also provided.

Name
Business 265

 The scandal chosen for this presentation is well known
as the Watergate scandal. The scandal has happened on
17th June 1972 (GLASS et al.).
 Several burglars have been arrested for the charges of
break into and robbery in the office of the Democratic
National Committee.
 Later on, it has revealed that the subjective scandal was
a part of political spying and that time president of
USA Richard Milhous Nixon has planned the same.
 Resulting this scandal, Nixon had to resign from his
post of president
Business Scandal

 The main victim of this scandal was public of the
nation, who have trusted upon Nixon. During the
speech made by him, he presented himself free from
any involvement in the scandal and re-won the election
of the president.
 The other victim was Nixon himself as due to the
scandal he had to resign from the post of president. It
was a certainly a big loss for him.
Who was the Victim (s)?

 The role of my person came into light when in the year
1972, he informed the engagement of formal CIA
agent and a person, Howard Hunt, one of the staff
member of Nixon in Watergate Scandal to two of the
journalist of Washington post (Mark Felt).
 My person did not open up his identity but played a
very crucial role in the investigation of scandal.
 Because of the information provided my person,
Journalists have made the efforts to investigate the
scandal and the same has been unrevealed.
Role of my person? What were the effects of
their actions?

 In the decision given by the grand jury, five burglars
have been charged with burglary, conspiracy, and
violation of federal wiretapping laws.
 Federal wiretapping laws prevent a person to record the
significant conversations of government officials for an
unethical purpose.
 Further, in addition to this, Nixon also used his
presidential powers in an unethical manner and
abusively used his position.
What specific laws were broken?

 As the ultimate impact of the actions of Felt, Nixon had
to resign from his post. In addition to the resignation of
Felt, 69 other government officials have been charged
and 48 have found guilty(O'Connell).
 Without providing his identity, Felt made the
Americans realized that sometimes conspiracies are not
just theories.
 Felt acted as a whistle-blower and a lesson has
developed in the country that how a person can use
his/her skills to prevent the unethical dealings.
What was the impact of this person’s
action?

 Business ethics could prevent the issue. In the
subjective scandal, public representatives have
unethically used their positions.
 If Nixon and other officials had used their powers in an
ethical manner, then this scandal could be prevented.
 Business ethics is a set of principle that governs the
behaviour of a person. It consists the ethical theories
and manner in which a person needs to perform their
actions.
Could effective business ethics have
prevented this?

 After the Watergate scandal, many of the laws have
been developed in the nation that are able to address
the issue highlighted in the scandal.
 2015 USA Freedom Act is a significant act which could
prevent this scandal. This act is working in the area of
transparency in relation to telephone records
(Maranzani).
 FISA Amendments Act of 2008 is another important
law which could deal with this issue and could prevent
the same.
Could any of the new laws (Since 2000) have prevented
this? If so, which one?

 “Mark Felt". Biography, 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/william-mark-felt-
396780. Accessed 1 Dec 2018.
 "Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down The White House (2017)". Imdb, 2018,
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5175450/. Accessed 1 Dec 2018.
 Freedland, Jonathan. "Jonathan Freedland: Deep Throat's Big Impact". The Guardian,
2018, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/dec/19/watergate-usa-mark-
felt. Accessed 1 Dec 2018.
 Maranzani, Barbara. "How Watergate Changed America’S Intelligence
Laws". HISTORY, 2018, https://www.history.com/news/how-watergate-changed-
americas-intelligence-laws. Accessed 1 Dec 2018.
 Amendments Act of 2008
 2015 USA Freedom Act
 O'Connell, See. "What Was Watergate? Here Are 14 Facts That Explain
Everything". Thejournal.Ie, 2018, https://www.thejournal.ie/what-was-watergate-14-
facts-richard-nixon-494970-Jun2012/. Accessed 1 Dec 2018.
 GLASS, ANDREW et al. "Watergate Burglars Arrested, June 17, 1972". POLITICO,
2018, https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/watergate-burglars-arrested-june-17-
1972-023799. Accessed 1 Dec 2018.
References