I think we all know the answer is the latter one, that not only would the Watergate story, nor the Pentagon Papers being published, ever happen. And even if they did, the Repub Party would never agree to impeach a president of their own party, as they were ready to do to Nixon, before he resigned in disgrace. Bottom line is, things have changed greatly since the 1970s, and mostly for the worse, when it comes to power and accountability for the rich and powerful..

Another thing, in the 1970s, most of the large newspapers were family-owned, and much more ethical and accountable to their readers, compared to now..