Because people weren't as hyperpartisan back in the 1970s.
Watergate was an indictment against Nixon's character, not the character of the entire Republican Party.
What I was going to say. Watergate immortalized Nixon as "a crook" (LOL), it was all about him. Sure, his VP who pardoned him might have lost "re"-election because of it, but I don't think people saw emerging Southern Republicans or Republicans out West or even most Northeastern "establishment" Republicans running for downballot things as having much to do with the whole fiasco.
