[Annotated] Donald Trump and the shadow of Watergate

Fresh scandals put the presidency in crisis, but not at risk of an impeachment

The giant scandals that broke over^[각주:1] Donald Trump's administration, between May 9th and 16th, carried such obvious parallels^[각주:2] with the last time a Republican president was disgraced^[각주:3] and chased from^[각주:4] office that even stunned^[각주:5] Republicans found themselves recalling it^[각주:6]. The charges against Mr Trump were of a "Watergate size and scale", said Senator John McCain of Arizona. The latest controversy^[각주:7], a report by the New York Times on May 16th that Mr Trump had urged^[각주:8] James Comey, his them FBI director, to drop a counter-espionage^[각주:9] investigation into one of the president's closest associates, could provide ground for an impeachment, said Justin Amash, a Republican congressman^[각주:10] from Michigan.

This was not outlandish^[각주:11]. The first article of impeachment against Richard Nixon was a charge that he had obstructed^[각주:12] the course of justice^[각주:13] - including by sacking^[각주:14] a special investigator into his crimes. By sacking Mr Comey on May 9th Mr Trump has invited that charge^[각주:15]. He himself suggested that he had axed^[각주:16] Mr Comey because he disliked the counter-espionage probe^[각주:17], which relates to Russia's efforts to rig^[각주:18] the election last year in the president's favor and has cast aspersion on^[각주:19] the role of several former Trump advisers^[각주:20]. The allegations^[각주:21] raised by the New York Times, which were corroborated by^[각주:22] others, have reinforced the impression of^[각주:23] the possible obstruction^[각주:24] that created. Apparently based on precise notes that Mr Comey kept of his interactions with the president, they center on a claim^[각주:25] that Mr Trump hinted that^[각주:26] the then director should not investigate Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser^[각주:27], who was sacked in February after journalists discovered he had surreptitiously^[각주:28] communicated with Russia's ambassador to Washington, DC, then lied about it. "I hope you can let this go," Mr Trump is alleged to have told Mr Comey.

Not so tricky Trump

A third recent scandal, concerning a story that Mr Trump blurted out^[각주:29] highly classified information about Islamic State to Russia's foreign minister^[각주:30], Sergei Lavrov, and that same ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, in the Oval Office^[각주:31] on May 10th, suggests how different Mr Trump is from Tricky Dicky. Nixon was a calculating^[각주:32] criminal^[각주:33]. Mr Trump, who appeared to confirm that he had indeed done some impromptu^[각주:34] intelligence-sharing^[각주:35] - "As President I wanted to share with Russia... facts pertaining to^[각주:36] terrorism" - appears hapless^[각주:37] by comparison^[각주:38].

Tho most convincing defence offered for this apparently remarkable blunder^[각주:39] is that the president, because he does not often read intelligence briefings, or indeed almost anything over a page in length^[각주:40], could not have known the sensitivity of the information he chose to divulge to^[각주:41] the Russians. Yet the impression of incompetence^[각주:42] this creates risks making Mr Trump vulnerable more broadly. Bob Corker, the respected Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, responded to the revelation^[각주:43] by describing the administration as in a "downward spiral^[각주:44]". 

Still, there is a big difference between Watergate and now, which makes it all but^[각주:45] certain that Mr Trump is in no danger of^[각주:46] imminent^[각주:47] impeachment. Then, the Democrats controlled Congress, wherein^[각주:48] lies the power^[각주:49] to impeach; now, the Republicans do - and no Congress has ever moved to dislodge^[각주:50] a president of the same party as its majority tribe^[각주:51]. Sure enough, despite the more anxious comments being made about Mr Trump by a dozen or so Republicans, including Mr McCain and Mr Amash, most are keeping quiet.

Electoral^[각주:52] logic is their guide^[각주:53]. Though Mr Trump has the worst ratings of^[각주:54] any new president on record^[각주:55] - less than 40% of Americans approve of^[각주:56] him - most Republican voters are still behind him^[각주:57]. With a nervous eye to the mid-term elections scheduled for^[각주:58] next year, most Republicans therefore consider attacking the president potentially suicidal^[각주:59] The Speaker of the House of Representatives^[각주:60], Paul Ryan, seems to be among them. While formally^[각주:61] supporting the decision of the congressional^[각주:62] oversight committee^[각주:63] to request^[각주:64] copies of Mr Comey's notes, Mr Ryan provided a masterclass in claiming to^[각주:65] want one thing while signalling the opposite^[각주:66]. "We need the facts," he said. "It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm^[각주:67] the president."

This may change. Perhaps there will be a new scandal so enormous as to drive Republican lawmakers^[각주:68] from Mr Trump in droves^[각주:69]. Moreover^[각주:70], if the Democrats capture the House of Representatives^[각주:71] next year, as they may, it is already likely they would vote to impeach Mr Trump. But the former scenario^[각주:72] seems unlikely^[각주:73] and in the second Mr Trump would probably be saved by the Senate^[각주:74] - as Bill Clinton was in 1999. A likelier outcome of^[각주:75] his rule-breaking^[각주:76] is less dramatic, but nonetheless^[각주:77] bad for America.

With Congress descending into^[각주:78] partisan^[각주:79] rowing about the president, there is already little prospect of Democrats and Republicans co-operating on^[각주:80] legislation^[각주:81]. There is at best^[각주:82] a vanishing^[각주:83] prospect of Republican congressmen, who no longer fear the president as they once did even if they will not condemn^[각주:84] him, co-operating among themselves to push his agenda^[각주:85]. Instead of remaking^[각주:86] America with bold initiatives^[각주:87], Mr Trump faces a prospect of doing little of anything. The S&P 500 fell by^[각주:88] almost 2% on May 17th as investors mulled that^[각주:89] dismally^[각주:90] familiar prospect. 

This is another kind of crisis. The dismay^[각주:91] many Americans felt at their governing system's previous round of tribalism^[각주:92] and dysfunction^[각주:93] fueled^[각주:94] the rise of Mr Trump. There is no reason to suppose the current cycle will lead to anything better. 

1. break a scandal ; 스캔들 기사를 터뜨리다 [본문으로]
2. parallel ; 2. [C] [주로 복수로] 유사점 [본문으로]
3. be disgraced ; 불명예를 안다, 곤욕을 치르다 [본문으로]
4. be chased from ; ~에서 쫓겨나다 [본문으로]
5. stun ; 2. 망연자실하게 만들다 [본문으로]
6. recall ; 2. [타동사][VN] [진행형으로는 쓰이지 않음] 생각나게 하다 [본문으로]
7. controversy ; [U , C] (pl. -ies) ~ (over/about/surrounding sb/sth) 논란 [본문으로]
8. urge ; 2. [타동사][VN] ~ sth (on/upon sb) 강력히 권고[촉구]하다 [본문으로]
9. counter-espionage ; [명사] 역(逆)스파이 활동, 방첩 활동. [본문으로]
10. congressman ; [명사] (pl. -men[-mən, -mèn]) [종종 C~] [미] 국회의원, ((특히)) 하원 의원 [본문으로]
11. outlandish ; [형용사] (보통 못마땅함) 이상한, 기이한 [본문으로]
12. obstruct ; 2. (일의 진행 등을) 방해하다 [본문으로]
13. the course of justice ; 법의 정의를 실현하는 길; 정당한 법[재판] 절차 [본문으로]
14. sack ; [vn] 1. (비격식 특히 英) 파면[해고]하다 [본문으로]
15. invite ; 3. (특히 좋지 않은 일을) 불러들이다[자초하다] [본문으로]
16. axe ; 2. 해고하다, 자르다 [본문으로]
17. probe ; 1. [특히 신문에서 쓰여] ~ (into sth) (철저한) 조사 [본문으로]
18. rig ; (-gg-), [vn], [주로 수동태로] 1. (부정한 수법으로) 조작하다 [본문으로]
19. cast aspersions on ; …을 비방[중상]하다. [본문으로]
20. adviser ; [명사] ~ (to sb) (on sth) 고문, 조언자 [본문으로]
21. allegation ; [명사] ~ (of sth) (against sb) | ~ (that…) | ~ (about sb/sth) (증거 없이 누가 부정한 일을 했다는) 혐의[주장] [본문으로]
22. corroborate ; [타동사][VN] [흔히 수동태로] (격식) (진술・이론 등을 뒷받침하는 증거나 정보를) 제공하다, 확증[입증]하다 [본문으로]
23. reinforce ; [vn] 1. (감정・생각 등을) 강화하다 [본문으로]
24. obstruction ; 1. [U , C] 방해 [본문으로]
25. center on ; ∼에 초점을 맞추다, …에 집중하다[시키다]. [본문으로]
26. hint ; [동사] 넌지시 알려주다, 암시[힌트]를 주다 [본문으로]
27. national security adviser ; 국가 안전 보장 담당 대통령 보좌관 [본문으로]
28. surreptitiously ; [부사] 몰래, 남모르게; 부정하게 [본문으로]
29. blurt out ; 무심결에 말하다, 불쑥 말하다 [본문으로]
30. foreign minister ; (특히 영) [보통 F- M-] 외무부 장관(foreign secretary) [본문으로]
31. the Oval office ; [명사] (백악관의) 대통령 집무실 [본문으로]
32. calculating ; [형용사] (못마땅함) 타산적인, 계산적인 [본문으로]
33. criminal ; [명사] 범인, 범죄자 [본문으로]
34. impromptu ; [형용사] (사전 준비 없이) 즉흥적으로[즉석에서] 한 [본문으로]
35. intelligence-sharing ; Intelligence sharing is "the ability to exchange intelligence, information, data, or knowledge among Federal, state, local or private-sector entities as appropriate."[1] Intelligence sharing also involves intergovernmental bilateral or multilateral agreements and through international organizations. Intelligence sharing is meant to facilitate the use of actionable intelligence to a broader range of decision-makers. Intelligence sharing is contrasted with information sharing, which may share the same methods of dissemination, but involves non-evaluated materials that have not been put through the rigors of the intelligence cycle. [본문으로]
36. pertaining to ; …에 관계된[속하는]. [본문으로]
37. hapless ; [형용사] (명사 앞에만 씀) (격식) 불운한, 불행한 ;; US·UK [|hӕpləs] [본문으로]
38. by comparison ; 그에 비해, 비교해 보면 [본문으로]
39. blunder ; [명사] (어리석은) 실수 [본문으로]
40. in length ; 길이는, 길이에 있어서 [본문으로]
41. divulge ; [동사] ~ sth (to sb) (격식) (비밀을) 알려주다[누설하다] ;; US·UK [daɪ|vʌldƷ] [본문으로]
42. incompetence ; [U] (업무・과제 등에 대한) 무능[기술 부족] [본문으로]
43. revelation ; 2. [U] ~ (of sth) (비밀 등을) 드러냄, 폭로 [본문으로]
44. downward spiral ; A series of thoughts or actions which feeds back into itself, causing a situation to become progressively worse. It is worse than a vicious circle, which is self-sustaining in its current state. [본문으로]
45. all but ; 거의 [본문으로]
46. be in no danger of ; ~의, ~할 위험이 없다 [본문으로]
47. imminent ; [형용사] 특히 불쾌한 일이 금방이라도 닥칠 듯한, 목전의, 임박한 [본문으로]
48. wherein ; [부사, 접속사] (격식) 어디에(서), 어떤 점에(서); 거기에(서), 그 점에(서) [본문으로]
49. wherein lies ~ ; ~는 어디에 있는 것인가 [본문으로]
50. dislodge ; 2. ~ sb (from sth) (지위・직장에서) 몰아내다[축출하다] [본문으로]
51. tribe ; 4. (비격식 또는 유머) <많은 사람들> [본문으로]
52. electoral ; [형용사] (명사 앞에만 씀) 선거의 [본문으로]
53. guide ; 5. STH THAT HELPS YOU DECIDE | 지침, 지표 [본문으로]
54. ratings ; 평가기준표 [본문으로]
55. on record ; 공표된, 공식으로 언명된, 기록되어 [본문으로]
56. approve of ; ~을 승인하다, 찬성하다, 인준하다 [본문으로]
57. be behind a person ; (…을) 지지하다, 원조하다 [본문으로]
58. be scheduled for ; ~할 예정이다, ~을 예약하다 [본문으로]
59. suicidal ; 2. 죽음[자멸]을 초래할, 몹시 위험한 [본문으로]
60. The Speaker of the House of Representatives ; 민의원 의장 [본문으로]
61. formally ; 1. 정식으로, 공식적으로 [본문으로]
62. congressional ; [형용사] (명사 앞에만 씀) 의회의; (미국) 의회의 [본문으로]
63. oversight committee ; 관리, 감시 위원회 [본문으로]
64. request ; ~ sth (from sb) (격식) (격식을차려 정중히)요청[요구/신청]하다 [본문으로]
65. masterclass in ; 흐름상 "~에 관한 최고의 대처, 처신, 대우" 정도의 의미 [본문으로]
66. signal ; 3. (감정・의견을 간접적으로) 표시하다[표하다] [본문으로]
67. harm ; [타동사][VN] 해치다; 해를 끼치다, 손상시키다 [본문으로]
68. so ~ as to ... ; ...할만큼 ~했다. [본문으로]
69. in droves ; 떼지어, 작당하여 [본문으로]
70. moreover ; [부사] (격식) 게다가, 더욱이 [본문으로]
71. the House of Representatives ; (미 의회·주 의회의) 하원 [본문으로]
72. scenario ; (pl. -os) 1. (미래에 가능한 일을 묘사한) 시나리오 [본문으로]
73. unlikely ; (un・like・lier , un・likeli・est), (more unlikely와 most unlikely가 흔히 쓰인다.) 1. ~ (to do sth) | ~ (that…) …할[일] 것 같지 않은, 있음직하지[있을 것 같지] 않은 [본문으로]
74. the Senate ; [명사] 상원 [본문으로]
75. likelier outcome ; 좀 더 있을 공산이 큰, 있을 법한 결과 [본문으로]
76. rule-breaking ; 규칙 파괴 [본문으로]
77. nonetheless ; [부사] ˌnone the ˈless (격식) 그렇기는 하지만, 그렇더라도 [본문으로]
78. descend into ; (수동태로는 안 씀) (나쁜 상황 속으로) 서서히 빠져들다, …로 내려가다(=go into). [본문으로]
79. partisan ; [형용사] (흔히 못마땅함) 편파[당파]적인 ;; US [|pɑ:rtəzn] UK [|pɑ:tɪ|zӕn;|pɑ:tɪzӕn] [본문으로]
80. cooperate on ; …에 대해 협력하다 [본문으로]
81. legislation ; [U] 2. 법률의 제정, 입법 행위 [본문으로]
82. at best ; 기껏[잘 해야], 아무리 낙관하여도. [본문으로]
83. vanishing ; [형용사, 명사] 사라지는 (일) [본문으로]
84. condemn ; [동사] EXPRESS DISAPPROVAL | ~ sb/sth (for/as sth) (보통 도덕적인 이유로) 규탄[비난]하다 [본문으로]
85. push agenda ; 의사를 밀어붙이다. [본문으로]
86. remake ; [타동사][VN] (re・made , re・made / -'meId /) (영화・노래 등을) 새로[다르게] 만들다[리메이크하다]; (어떤 것을) 다시 만들다 [본문으로]
87. initiative ; 1. [C] (특정한 문제 해결・목적 달성을 위한 새로운) 계획 [본문으로]
88. fall by ~ % ; ~%가 떨어지다(낙차폭) ;; fall to ~% ; ~%로 떨어지다(최종 수치) [본문으로]
89. mull ; [타동사] 1. 엉망으로 만들다, 실수하다; 숙고하다 [본문으로]
90. dismally ; [부사] 음침하게, 우울하게 ; 기분 나쁘게. [본문으로]
91. dismay ; [U] (충격을 받은 뒤의) 실망, 경악 [본문으로]
92. tribalism ; [U] 1. 부족[종족] 중심주의, 부족[동족]의식 [본문으로]
93. dysfunction ; [UC] [병리] 기능 장애; [사회] 역기능 [본문으로]
94. fuel ; 3. [타동사][VN] 부채질하다 [본문으로]