9th Grade Winners for the 1999-2000 School Year
Martha Mitchell
Creative Writing Contest
9th Grade Winners for the 1999-2000 School Year
$50.00 Second Place Winner:
Sheena Jarvis from White Hall Junior High School
Martha Mitchell's Place in History-
The Nature and Significance of Her Impact on Washington Politics.
Martha Beall Mitchell was an
important but unknown person in American history. She was the wife of John Mitchell,
the United States Attorney General. Her involvement with American History took place
under the Nixon Administration.
It all started when the Washington Post
newspaper found out that the Nixon Administration had possibly been involved with the
Watergate Scandal. In October of 1972, reporters Woodward and Bernstein connected
John Mitchell, Nixon's Attorney General, to the break in. The Post published an
article that stated Mitchell had personally authorized two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars to pay for the break-in expenses. Martha was angry at accusations made
toward her husband, John Mitchell. Martha believed that her husband was used as a
scapegoat. Martha decided to take action and protect her husband's name.
Martha called the Washington Post and spoke to
Woodward and Bernstein. She tried to convince them her husband was innocent.
Martha even allowed Woodward and Bernstein to look at her husband's secret home office
files. Woodward and Bernstein could not make serious accusations about the
presidency in the newspaper. Both men decided to investigate to see if a connection
could be found with the White House, and after taking a closer look, a connection was
found.
After hearing the Washington Post's findings, her husband remained loyal to the President.
Attorney General Mitchell did not take part in laying the blame on President Nixon.
Martha Mitchell embarrassed her husband, John, very badly with her shenanigans.
One time he even went as far as locking Martha in the closet to stop her calls to
the press and friends. Unfortunately for Martha, her husband was involved more
deeply than she realized. It was reported that President Nixon discussed Martha
Mitchell's activities in the White House. President Nixon thought if the White House
ignored her, everybody else would, too.
Martha decided to make speeches directly before
the press, because no one else took her seriously. Martha's behavior was unheard of,
because a politician's wife was basically to be the hostess at parties. Martha's
involvement in her husband's job shocked many people. People considered Martha's
meddling in her husband's career as improper.
However, in these days, women take for granted how much freedom they actually have.
It may never be known Martha Mitchell's impact on women's rights today. I think Mrs.
Mitchell was a very courageous and out-spoken woman, who should be viewed as a leader in
the battle for women's rights.