When politicians mess up or cause scandals, it can have lasting effects on politics and their country as a whole. The Watergate cover-up directly impacted polarization between the political parties of America, as people felt they had to choose a side. This divide continued to grow as the 20th century continued and turned into the 21st, impacted by the Iran Hostage Crisis and the invasion of Iraq by George Bush. The polarization between the Republicans and Democrats in the US is now among the worst it has ever been, mostly due to Donald Trump. The more massive scandals and PR failures he has, the more people either blindly follow him or move as far away from him politically as they can. I believe that the US will not be able to bridge this divide without dedicated effort on both sides, but I don’t think that will happen for a long time.