In 1988, psychologist Brendan Maher coined the term "the Martha Mitchell Effect" to refer to someone who is diagnosed as delusional or paranoid for making seemingly improbable claims, but is actually telling the truth; in other words, it's gaslighting. But who was Martha Mitchell, and why is this phenomenon named after her?

Martha Mitchell was the wife of John Mitchell, US Attorney General under President Richard Nixon, perhaps more significantly known as a whistleblower during the Watergate Scandal that ousted President Nixon. Using archival footage, photos, and audio recordings, this modest yet brilliant short film recounts the story of a formidable woman who was gaslit by the Nixon administration in an attempt to keep her silent... but "silent" and "Martha Mitchell" are two things that just don't quite go together.