Martha Mitchell Creative Writing Contest
12th Grade Winners for the 1999-2000 School Year

$50.00 Second Place Winner:
Valencia Moses from Dumas High School

Martha Mitchell's Place in History:
The Nature and Significance of Her Impact on Washington Politics.

Going Against the Grain

        Through Watergate the foundations of our country's campaign system, electoral process, and the First Amendment were endangered.   If it had not been for one brave soul, Watergate would have never happened.   That person, that soul, was a woman, and her name was Martha Mitchell.  If Watergate was a "cancer on the presidency", Martha gave the diagnosis.
        Martha was rocketed from a small-town girl to one of the most recognized women in America.  Raised in Arkansas' Pine Bluff, Martha Mitchell matured into a southern belle, with a strong mind and equally bold opinions.   Her husband, John, became a member of Richard Nixon's law firm in 1967.  He had had no political experience, but successfully managed Nixon's 1968 campaign.   John Mitchell went on to serve as Attorney General and chairman of Nixon's re-election committee.  Although Martha was reluctant to have a husband in politics, she adjusted to life in Washington.
        In a time where politician's wives were seen as mere party hostesses, Martha was a self-proclaimed politician.  In less than three years, Martha Mitchell was identifiable by seventy-six percent of the American people.  Because she valued aiding persons crippled by injustice, her charisma radiated infectious warmth, love, and compassion.  But when her husband was labeled as the chief conspirator in the Watergate crimes, Martha went straight to his defense.
        Her husband was charged with approving the burglary with $250,000 from campaign   funds.  At first, Martha was sure her husband was just a scapegoat for the "dirty tricks" of the President.  But as time progressed, the scandals behind Watergate increased.  Martha could not stand by and let what was happening happen.  Martha contacted the highly circulated Washington Post.   Reporters gobbled up her accusations, but could not print the revelations based solely on testimony.  Martha continued her calls, appeared on television, and held interviews.  Through doing so, Martha became a threat to the prosperity of the Nixon administration.  Eugene Patterson noted in Florida's St. Petersburg Times, "Because she told the truth indiscreetly... she was written off as a kook in Washington".  But Martha was much more.
        Martha was significant.  Through her, women were given courage to have a voice in governmental matters.  Martha knew injustice when she saw it.  Her actions proclaimed wrongs were to be righted, even if the President of the United States committed them.  Martha Mitchell paved the way for investigative reporting.  Because Martha challenged Nixon's "executive privilege", the checks and balances established by our founding fathers prevailed the tests of Watergate.  "Thank God she told the truth, which is more then we can say about those involved in the scandal", echoed a letter in the Pine Bluff Commercial.  Ironically, Nixon paid the ultimate tribute:  "If it hadn't been for Martha, there'd have been no Watergate".

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