"[1] The fallout from Watergate placed pressure on those hoping to pass the bill to get everything done before President Nixon's impeachment. They succeeded in getting ERISA passed by Congress, but it was signed into law by President Ford. [2] The agreement between the Departments of Labor and the Treasury as to what role each agency would play in administering ERISA was decided over Chinese food and written down on a paper napkin. [3] ERISA didn't have support from powerful interests but it passed anyway because of media attention spurred by congressional hearings and the resulting overwhelming support it received from regular Americans."  MORE >>