Shadow of Watergate: Campaign Reform Finance 1999
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by Robert Schurgin
Directed by Graham Knight
VHS, color, 26 min.
College - Adult
History, Political Science
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Michael J. Coffta, Business Librarian, Bloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaThis film provides brief summaries and reflections on the Watergate scandal in the context of campaign finance reform, and draws brief comparisons with the Clinton/Gore campaign finance scandal. The documentary is fast-paced. Newsreporters and other key figures from the Watergate era and from today give short, strong insights - rarely more than two or three sentences.
The film talks about how the Federal Election Committee's regulations on campaign finance have deteriorated. Brooks Jackson of CNN said that Nixon would do in his best hour what is now permissable by FEC standards. While it does offer a good, brief summary of the events of the Watergate scandal, anyone considering purchasing this film must realize that it is intended to stimulate questioning and discussion about the future of campaign finance rather than to solely recite history. Anyone looking for a more detailed historical analysis of Watergate should look elsewhere. This documentary would do well for a high school class.
Recommended.