The Lingering Presence of Watergate.

Watergate was the biggest presidential story of the year, and it had a deep impact on the congressional elections of 1974. Voters were disenchanted with politics generally and disgusted with the drift in policy (inflation, unemployment, and consumer shortages were unaddressed problems) that occurred as the nation pursued Watergate. Only 38 percent of the electorate participated, and they punished conservative Republicans. Republicans lost forty-eight seats in the House, and two GOP senators lost their seats — one to Gary Hart, manager of McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign. Every incumbent Democratic senator was reelected, and moderate Republicans increased their ranks in Congress. Democrats won twenty-seven of the thirty-five races for governor, overturning Republican rule in ten states.

New Faces.

The anti-incumbent sentiment of voters was best expressed in Maine, where independent James B. Longley defeated the gubernatorial candidates of both parties. Elsewhere, new...