The Limits on the Powers of the President
Televised hearings begin on the Watergate Affair
President Nixon attained things that caused Congress to limit powers of presidents today and in the future. During the time when he was president, Nixon carried out illegal campaign activities, which included using money from campaign fundraising to pay the illegal activities, such as the Watergate break-in. Nixon also abused his power and used the executive privilege to withhold information from the public. Congress then later passed new laws and acts to limit the powers of the future presidents. During the Watergate scandal, Nixon prevented the investigators and Congress to get hold of the documents and tapes. So soon after Watergate, the Freedom of Information Act was passed to increase the public’s access to government documents. The Act also provided the media and public new ways to access other government information, which was held by the executive branch. In addition, Congress passed the Government in Sunshine Act, which required government agencies to hold public meetings so American people would know about government activities in time. They also passed the Federal Election Campaign Act, which increased the exposure of the payments for federal campaigns; and they established a public paying system for presidential elections. This helped prevent presidents from using money for personal purposes without being known. Moreover, the Watergate scandal has led to striving with determination to improve the campaign funding and to impose limits on the president and the executive branch.