General Discussion

madokie

(51,076 posts)

66. Since I was working the only evening job I had in my life

Wed Jan 4, 2017, 12:12 PM

Jan 2017

and recently home from the war I was able to and took advantage of the opportunity to watch the Watergate hearings. Even though at first I wasn't real sure I understood what was going on I realized that this was a grave injustice to me as a Vet and to us as Americans, what tricky dick and his crew did.

Before heading off to Vietnam I was stationed at the Navy's SERE school at Warner Springs California. S survival, E evasion, R resistance, E escape. I spent a week in a prisoner of war compound that was as real as if I was actually in one. I knew no difference and if I had I would not have been able to finish the school and get my diploma and stay there for a tour of duty helping in training. The reason I'm telling you this is because Erlichmann and Halderman both visited our training camp on more than one occasion. We did torture, waterboarding the whole nine yards and it was this phase they were most interested in. The school was attended by the Navy Seals, Under Water Demolition Teams, soon to be Captains of US Navy ships or US Navy bases and Pilots heading to Vietnam. I'm sure Demotex was a student although I suspect he came through the school before I was stationed there as his tour of Duty in 'Nam overlapped mine, I was behind him. Anyway for nixon's henchmen to be so concerned with what we did at the school piqued my interest in what they were doing there. Although they were there before Watergate they nevertheless were part of the incoming tricky dick's inner circle and we were made aware of that.

So yes I watched most of the hearings although that was a long time ago.

Upon leaving SERE school I was told I was to not talk about anything we did at the school and am not sure I'm legal to type what I've typed here now or on several occasions prior to today. I had to have a step up from a Top Secret Clearance. Not sure what it was referred to as too much time has passed and I've tried to forget all about that period in my life up to the time that the dick and w were torturing/waterboarding.

If a student failed this training they were either discharged from the Navy or at the very least not sent on to their designated duty stations due to that.

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Curious. How many folks posting here are old enough to have watched the Watergate [View all] McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 OP

I was pretty young at the time Warren DeMontague Jan 2017 #1

I remember being bored with it and depressed, TexasTowelie Jan 2017 #2

Oh, dear. Me too, but I was a young mother. :) Hortensis Jan 2017 #34

I think as a student of history, the tapes and the "Saturday Night Massacre" were the biggest deals Warren DeMontague Jan 2017 #3

I agree. potone Jan 2017 #8

I agree elfin Jan 2017 #29

This is the main reason I think the idea of impeachment for Trump enough Jan 2017 #44

Agreed. McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #84

Old enough to watch cbreezen Jan 2017 #4

I was in HS Freddie Jan 2017 #25

Me too LeftInTX Jan 2017 #47

Sounds exactly like my childhood in Charlotte. Island Blue Jan 2017 #39

I think that I first heard of it when I watched Point Break HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #5

Remember wondering how long it would be before he forked over the tapes. shraby Jan 2017 #6

i watched the hearings. i was in DesertFlower Jan 2017 #7

I watched it, all right. I can't pick out just one thing that was more loathsome than the rest.... Hekate Jan 2017 #9

I heard it while working at my college radio station. bluestateboomer Jan 2017 #10

I am. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2017 #11

I worked in a hospital pharmacy as a tech. The pharmacists set up a TV in a back room, and... NNadir Jan 2017 #12

That's my biggest hope too Freddie Jan 2017 #26

Well said! McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #85

Yeah, That shit was going down when I got state side from Nam........... Old Vet Jan 2017 #13

I watched the hearings every day. We discussed it in school MrScorpio Jan 2017 #14

I remember it. Cyberologist Jan 2017 #15

I am "old enough." :) Silver Gaia Jan 2017 #16

I remember a bit of it - it was also big news in England LeftishBrit Jan 2017 #17

I watched quite a bit of it malaise Jan 2017 #18

Saw it too. Luckily, there was a VP -- Ford -- who could take office if Nixon resigned. Hoyt Jan 2017 #19

I remember being impressed with Dean's amazing memory and also Mo Dean. ... spin Jan 2017 #20

Watergate alicenuffer Jan 2017 #21

I am old enough to remember the break in but was distracted by my own problems. TexasProgresive Jan 2017 #22

Archebald Cox was the kicker-- firing him brought it all into focus, and just how low... TreasonousBastard Jan 2017 #23

I was in the DC Area, that summer, bobalew Jan 2017 #24

Probably my earliest political memory. At a friend's house, his father sitting in a dark room underpants Jan 2017 #27

Old enough.... Useless in FL Jan 2017 #28

Yup Sedona Jan 2017 #30

i was 17 barbtries Jan 2017 #31

I remember vlyons Jan 2017 #32

They were on instead of my cartoons. AngryAmish Jan 2017 #33

We're clearly close in age. LOL! Pacifist Patriot Jan 2017 #60

I was a kid but JNelson6563 Jan 2017 #35

I was in high school at the time Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jan 2017 #36

The most... Mike Nelson Jan 2017 #37

I worked at what was then New York - Cornell Hospital. . annabanana Jan 2017 #38

That was Alexander Butterfield. longship Jan 2017 #54

Oh yes! The tapes! McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #86

Raising Hand ProfessorGAC Jan 2017 #40

15 Years Old In 1973 RobinA Jan 2017 #41

I was in 4th grade get the red out Jan 2017 #42

It shaped my political future. nt Javaman Jan 2017 #43

For all of us. McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #87

Watched with rapt attention every day at age 10 lostnfound Jan 2017 #45

Yup. LAS14 Jan 2017 #46

I was 12 years old at the time and my mom had octoberlib Jan 2017 #48

It was the first ever MUST SEE tv... hwmnbn Jan 2017 #49

They were great. longship Jan 2017 #50

I remember the Watergate hearings Gothmog Jan 2017 #51

Enemies list was certainly gripping, but just one more in the whole mass of everything UTUSN Jan 2017 #52

You are right. Enemies List was not the worst thing. But it seemed like the most politically damning McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #88

I was in 8th grade. LWolf Jan 2017 #53

Senater Howard Baker. Turbineguy Jan 2017 #55

Amen to that. McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #89

I watched it. femmocrat Jan 2017 #56

Our incoming administration makes Tricky Dick look like Mr. Rogers. BigDemVoter Jan 2017 #57

I listened to them on Armed Forces Radio Network dumbcat Jan 2017 #58

I vaguely recall my mother watching the hearings, and... Pacifist Patriot Jan 2017 #59

Remember this picture being all over the papers dhol82 Jan 2017 #61

I watched some but National Lampoon laid it all out there.... Historic NY Jan 2017 #62

Out of H.S., in the Army.... N_E_1 for Tennis Jan 2017 #63

I watched it all. I recall being shocked and repelled by it all. nancy1942 Jan 2017 #64

I was 25. I remember John Dean the clearest Greybnk48 Jan 2017 #65

Since I was working the only evening job I had in my life madokie Jan 2017 #66

Probably the best part of the whole mess were the Doonsebury cartoons.... Wounded Bear Jan 2017 #67

I watched some but I had to work so I relied on the evening news. Local paper was Jim Beard Jan 2017 #68

I was in my early teens. hamsterjill Jan 2017 #69

I watched. It was riveting. OregonBlue Jan 2017 #70

I was 26 and watched a lot eleny Jan 2017 #71

Single biggest moment was the revelation of the White House tapes by Alexander Butterfield. yellowcanine Jan 2017 #72

I still remember that moment, too. Sam Ervin perked up his ears. kwassa Jan 2017 #96

I have vague memories of parents/grandparents discussing it Bettie Jan 2017 #73

Many lovely hours skip fox Jan 2017 #74

Watched between classes with my college friends csziggy Jan 2017 #75

I watched with great fascination. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2017 #76

It happened when I was in the service GP6971 Jan 2017 #77

The tape recordings is what I remember most. Iggo Jan 2017 #78

We watched the hearings in Senior social science milestogo Jan 2017 #79

Martha and John Mitchel riverwalker Jan 2017 #80

I was in the Air Force at the time, stationed in Plattsburgh, NY. SeattleVet Jan 2017 #81

Thanks! That is something civilians did not have to worry about. Or not so much. McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #90

I remember nil desperandum Jan 2017 #82

I remember, but didn't understand Ilsa Jan 2017 #83

I was - and in my case, in additional to watching the network news account, there were the detailed karynnj Jan 2017 #91

I was 23-24. Golden Raisin Jan 2017 #92

I watched it obsessively NastyRiffraff Jan 2017 #93

20 did not watch much dembotoz Jan 2017 #94

I'm old enough. But by May 1973, I was in my "It's hopeless and we're doomed" mode struggle4progress Jan 2017 #95