White House Plumbers is about the Watergate Scandal. White House Plumbers gives the viewer a behind-the-scenes perspective that we haven’t seen before. The Watergate Scandal was a major scandal connected to Richard Nixon’s administration. It took place during 1972-1974. The Watergate Scandal left an impact on American politics for years to come. The Watergate Scandal was an attempt to cover up Richard Nixon’s administration’s involvement in the burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters, in the Watergate Office building. White House Plumbers follows the characters E. Howard Hunt played by Woody Harrelson and G. Gordy Liddy played by Justin Theroux; their names remain the same after the real people who inspired their roles. None of the names in the show have been changed because almost everyone in the case in life was found guilty.
In episode one entitled “The Beverly Hills Burglary” the episode begins in front of the Watergate Office Building. There were four attempts to break into the Watergate Office Building. The episode starts with the second attempt. Hunt and Liddy, along with others, attempt to break in, however, fail due to a lack of proper equipment. We go back in time a year earlier, therefore, it is now 1971, before Hunt and Liddy had been introduced. They both get introduced after being hired as agents for the Special Intelligence Unit (SIU). At first, they do not get along too well, however, they eventually form a healthy partner relationship.
After developing a better relationship as coworkers and becoming friends, they try to intertwine their lives at home together. They do this by introducing their wives. Liddy and his wife Frances, played by Judy Greer, host a dinner for Hunt and his wife Dorothy, played by Lena Headey. At first, everything is going well, they make small talk and discuss their children, careers, and how they met their significant other. However, when Liddy and his wife turn on a recording of Hilter giving a speech as background entertainment, the mood for the rest of the dinner changes. Hunt and his wife do not recognize the voice immediately, but when they get clarification it is obvious, they are taken by surprise. Hunt’s wife Dorothy is visibly uncomfortable; he asks if Liddy could turn down the volume. Liddy doesn’t do that, and it seems that the audio gets louder and louder, then the scene cuts to Hunt and his wife in their car driving home.
The next night, while Hunt and Liddy are working together during a stakeout for one of the many burglary attempts, Hunt asks Liddy why he likes Hitler. Liddy explains that when he was younger he got bullied often and he had a German nanny that would play tapes of Hitler talking. He claims even though Hitler caused a lot of harm and pain, that the sound of Hitler’s voice made him feel encouraged and like he could do anything. Hunt doesn’t like this response or understand the reasoning, so he reminds Liddy that Hitler is not someone to look up to. This interaction questions if their friendship is meant to be and if they do or do not have the things in common they thought they did. They will have the opportunity to test this theory because, at the end of the episode, they are promoted to the committee to make sure Richard Nixon gets re-elected.
Rating: 5/10