Celluloid Historians: Understanding Watergate through All the President’s Men

Abstract

This paper considers the influence that fictional cinema has on public understanding of history. Specifically, it analyses the role that Alan J. Pakula’s 1976 film All the President’s Men, has had in developing and perpetuating the narrative of the Watergate scandal. Historians often accuse filmmakers of inaccurate, and sometimes irresponsible, depictions of historical events, questioning the credibility of writers and directors that are not bound by the rules of academic integrity. Nonetheless, cinema often provides a basis of historical understanding for a general public that are far more inclined to engage with a fictional film than an academic text. All the President’s Men provides a useful example as the influence of the film can be measured through its effect on the United States Presidential election results of 1978. This study will examine how the filmmakers were able to create such an influential portrayal of history, through the film form, by examining the cinematic techniques utilised. Further, it will consider the film’s lasting influence as an historical record of the Watergate saga.