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Short Summary Key Points FAQ Quiz Short Summary ### Summary The Watergate scandal, stemming from a 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters orchestrated by Nixon’s re-election team, led to his 1974 resignation after tapes revealed his involvement in the cover-up. The scandal exposed political corruption, with Nixon avoiding impeachment by stepping down and later receiving a pardon from President Ford. Watergate remains a defining symbol of political scandal, influencing how subsequent controversies are labeled and perceived.   Key Points ### Key Points - The Watergate scandal involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, ordered by members of the Republican Party, and the subsequent cover-up. - President Richard Nixon was directly involved in the cover-up, as evidenced by the ‘Smoking Gun Tape’ where he discussed obstructing justice. - Nixon resigned in 1974 to avoid impeachment and potential criminal charges, marking the only U.S. presidential resignation in history. - The scandal was uncovered by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, aided by whistleblower ‘Deep Throat,’ later revealed as FBI associate director W. Mark Felt. - Nixon’s administration attempted to suppress evidence, including Oval Office tapes, but ultimately failed, leading to his downfall. - Gerald Ford, Nixon’s successor, pardoned Nixon, which was controversial but intended to move the country past the scandal. - Watergate remains a symbol of political corruption, with the suffix ‘-gate’ now commonly used to denote scandals. - The scandal revealed extensive abuses of power, including espionage, bribery, and obstruction of justice within the Nixon administration. - Despite Nixon’s claims of innocence, the evidence against him was overwhelming, tarnishing his legacy permanently. - The Watergate scandal significantly impacted public trust in government and led to reforms in campaign finance and transparency. FAQ ### Frequently Asked Questions Q:What was the Watergate scandal? A:The Watergate scandal involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, ordered by members of the Republican Party, and the subsequent cover-up. It led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Q:How was President Nixon involved in the Watergate scandal? A:President Nixon was directly implicated in the cover-up of the Watergate break-in. Secret recordings, known as the ‘Smoking Gun Tape,’ revealed his involvement in obstructing justice, which ultimately led to his resignation. Q:Who was Deep Throat in the Watergate scandal? A:Deep Throat was the anonymous whistleblower who provided critical information to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. He was later revealed to be W. Mark Felt, the former associate director of the FBI. Q:What was the 'Smoking Gun Tape' in the Watergate scandal? A:The ‘Smoking Gun Tape’ was a secret recording from the Oval Office that captured President Nixon discussing the Watergate cover-up. This evidence confirmed his involvement and led to his resignation. Q:Why did President Nixon resign? A:Facing near-certain impeachment and potential criminal charges for obstruction of justice due to the Watergate scandal, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974. His successor, Gerald Ford, later pardoned him. Quiz ### Quiz [📄 Download Quiz PDF](https://constitutionus.com/wp-content/uploads/quiz-pdfs/what-is-the-watergate-scandal-quiz.pdf) ## What is the Watergate Scandal? Quiz What was the main reason Nixon’s team ordered the break-in? To steal campaign funds To spy on the Democratic campaign To intimidate Democratic leaders To plant false evidence Continue What was the Watergate scandal primarily about? A scandal involving Nixon’s personal taxes A financial fraud scheme involving Nixon’s campaign A dispute between Nixon and the CIA A break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters Continue What did Nixon claim in his famous ‘I am not a crook’ speech? He denied any involvement in the scandal He accused the Democrats of framing him He announced his resignation He admitted to the break-in Continue What was the ‘Smoking Gun Tape’? A tape of Nixon discussing the cover-up of the scandal A recording of Nixon resigning A recording of Nixon admitting to the break-in A tape of Nixon meeting with the burglars Continue What is the legacy of the Watergate scandal? It led to stricter campaign finance laws It caused Nixon to be imprisoned It became a symbol of political corruption It resulted in the abolition of the FBI Continue Who pardoned Richard Nixon? Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan The Supreme Court Continue What was the Committee to Re-elect the President involved in? Organizing campaign rallies Negotiating peace in Vietnam Ordering the break-in at the Watergate complex Fundraising for Nixon’s campaign Continue Who was Deep Throat? A member of Nixon’s administration An anonymous whistleblower who helped uncover the scandal A reporter for the Washington Post One of the burglars involved in the break-in Continue Which newspaper played a key role in uncovering the Watergate scandal? The Chicago Tribune The Washington Post The Los Angeles Times The New York Times Continue Why did Nixon resign? He lost the election He was impeached by Congress He was pressured by his party To avoid impeachment and criminal charges Continue Continue {{\$global}} What is the Watergate Scandal? Quiz You got {{userScore}} out of {{maxScore}} correct {{title}} {{image}} {{content}} {{/global}} Table of Contents [Toggle](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/) - [The Legacy of Watergate](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#The_Legacy_of_Watergate) - [What Happened at Watergate?](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#What_Happened_at_Watergate) - [Why did Watergate even happen?](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#Why_did_Watergate_even_happen) - [Uncovering the Cover-Up Created by Nixon and the Republicans](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#Uncovering_the_Cover-Up_Created_by_Nixon_and_the_Republicans) - [A Doomed Second Term](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#A_Doomed_Second_Term) - [The Influence of Deep Throat](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#The_Influence_of_Deep_Throat) - [The Smoking Gun Tape](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#The_Smoking_Gun_Tape) - [Richard Nixon's Resignation and Pardon](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#Richard_Nixons_Resignation_and_Pardon) - [The Legacy of the Watergate Scandal](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/what-was-the-watergate-scandal/#The_Legacy_of_the_Watergate_Scandal) Richard Nixon’s presidency and legacy are marked by a single event and its fallout between 1972 and 1974. He would eventually resign over accusations surrounding the Watergate scandal. **What is the Watergate scandal?** The Watergate scandal is the circumstances surrounding a **break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters** under the orders of members of the Republican Party and the **cover-up** that ensued.   Watergate indictments at the district court ## The Legacy of Watergate [President Richard Nixon](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/president-richard-m-nixon/) went from denying a connection to the burglars to being heard on tape arranging a cover-up of the operation. He would later resign to avoid impeachment or even criminal charges for obstruction of justice. [**Read more**All About Being Vice President (and more)](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/all-about-being-vice-president-and-more/) The term Watergate is now tied to political corruption and controversy nearly 40 years after the event. What happened at Watergate? How deep was the president’s involvement in Watergate? ## What Happened at Watergate? The central part of the Watergate scandal was a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee within the Watergate complex in [Washington, DC](https://constitutionus.com/constitution/why-isnt-dc-a-state/). While the men involved were labeled as burglars after breaking and entering the offices, there was far more to the story. [**Read more**US Presidents who Never Served in the Military](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/us-presidents-that-never-served-in-military/) They were there to steal documents and to bug the phones of the Democratic Party under the orders of the Committee to Re-elect the President.   President Nixon with Elvis in the Oval Office. ## Why did Watergate even happen? The Republicans and the Democrats were involved in a bitter election campaign where President Nixon sought a second term amid the ongoing [Vietnam War](https://constitutionus.com/war/when-did-vietnam-war-start/). President Nixon was not confident that he would win the second term, so he decided to take drastic action. Nixon’s team decided that it would be beneficial to gain information about the Democratic campaign through [espionage](https://constitutionus.com/law/what-was-the-espionage-act/). Ultimately, they tried to break it into 3 terms. [**Read more**All about the United States Presidents](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/us-presidents/) The first time, they were unable. The second time, their plans went wrong. The third time, they were caught by the police and arrested. The third time, five men returned to the Watergate Office Building on June 17th to fix failed wiretaps. This time, those breaking into the complex included E Howard Hunt, G Gordon Liddy, and James McCord. ## Uncovering the Cover-Up Created by Nixon and the Republicans Evidence grew about a connection between the break-in and the re-election campaign. It also seemed that funds linked to the campaign had paid those involved. The real question was how far up in the White House the orders were given. The only thing that the Republicans could do at this point was cover up the affair and insist that they had no involvement whatsoever.   Egil Krogh, who was tried and convicted of burglary in the Watergate Affair Men such as White House Counsel John Dean had initially done enough to shift the blame and keep the public on the Nixon administration’s side. In November of that year, Nixon was re-elected with ease and started his second term the following January. None of Nixon’s tricks were needed for his re-election campaign. ## A Doomed Second Term The situation began sour early in President Nixon’s second term as some conspirators were indicted and pleaded guilty to avoid a trial. The issue for Nixon refused to go away as those skeptical of his alleged lack of involvement dug deeper, particularly Washington Post reporters. The Nixon White House would face questions throughout the year, culminating in the famous speech in which he declared, “I am not a crook.”   ### Get Smarter on US News, History, and the Constitution Join the thousands of fellow patriots who rely on our 5-minute newsletter to stay informed on the key events and trends that shaped our nation's past and continue to shape its present. This line would come back to haunt him when all was later revealed.   Watergate was one of the most damaging scandals to ever hit the White House. Nixon knew much about what was happening and had even arranged to pay off the burglars to keep them quiet. On top of this, there was a plan to get the CIA involved in halting the FBI investigation. As more conspirators gave up key information, it was harder and harder for Nixon to avoid being indicted himself. Former White House counsel Charles Colson, former assistant to Nixon John Ehrlichman, White House Chief of Staff HR Haldeman, and former United States [Attorney General](https://constitutionus.com/law/what-were-the-palmer-raids/) John Mitchell were all later indicted following an investigation by Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. ## The Influence of Deep Throat Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered a lot of what was really going on while working for the Washington Post. They were helped by an informant who went by the name Deep Throat. At the time, Deep Throat was an anonymous whistleblower who helped direct the two reporters toward the truth behind the cover-up and intentions of the break-in. Deep Throat was later revealed to be the former associate director of the FBI, W. Mark Felt.   Watergate Complex in Washington DC. ## The Smoking Gun Tape The biggest blow came when it was revealed by Deputy Assistant to President Richard M Nixon, Alexander Butterfield, in June 1973 that all conversations in the Oval Office were taped and that there would be a tape available with evidence of the cover-up. While there were attempts to use presidential privilege to keep the tapes classified, this failed, and eventually, the Nixon administration was compelled to hand them over. This led to the revelation of the Smoking Gun Tape, where Nixon was heard talking about the cover-up. ## Richard Nixon’s Resignation and Pardon The release of the Smoking Gun Tape was the beginning of the end of Nixon’s time as [President of the United States](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/list-of-presidents/). The evidence against him was now clear, and Congress had a strong case for [impeachment](https://constitutionus.com/constitution/what-does-the-constitution-say-about-impeachment/). There was strong support for impeachment from both political parties because President Nixon had obstructed justice. Nixon was informed of this change in circumstances at the Oval Office on August 7th and advised to resign.   Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon after succeeding him as president. The following evening, he delivered a speech to the public via a national broadcast announcing his plan to leave office. He expressed his regrets about having to do so. He also said that Vice President Ford would be taking over. There was no admission of guilt. The next day, [Nixon signed his resignation letter](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/why-did-nixon-resign/) and boarded a helicopter to leave Washington. [Gerald Ford](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/president-gerald-r-ford/) assumed the presidency after that. At this point, Nixon still faced the possibility of a trial and criminal conviction. However, on September 8th, Ford issued a [presidential pardon](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/why-do-presidents-pardon/) to Nixon for any involvement he may have had. Ford saw his pardon as a way to draw a line under the affair and leave the former president in peace. There were rumors that Nixon had agreed to resign on the condition that this pardon would happen. The Whitehouse has denied this.   Judge Sirica looking over papers from the Watergate Scandal. He presided over the court cases of those arrested for breaking into the Watergate Complex. ## The Legacy of the Watergate Scandal Although Nixon maintained that he was innocent right until his death, the Smoking Gun Tape suggests otherwise. The Watergate scandal was swept under the rug after 1974 but has never been forgotten and will go down as one of the biggest White House scandals to ever occur. We only have to look at how we talk about subsequent scandals to see the effect. Whenever a situation has the suffix gate attached to it, it is a nod to the Watergate affair. [](https://constitutionus.com/alicia-reynolds/) [Alicia Reynolds](https://constitutionus.com/alicia-reynolds/) Alicia Reynolds holds a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in American Studies from Columbia University. Alicia is a keen writer and consultant for ConstitutionUS.com, creating engaging content that demystifies complex constitutional concepts for a wide audience. 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Richard Nixon’s presidency and legacy are marked by a single event and its fallout between 1972 and 1974. He would eventually resign over accusations surrounding the Watergate scandal. **What is the Watergate scandal?** The Watergate scandal is the circumstances surrounding a **break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters** under the orders of members of the Republican Party and the **cover-up** that ensued.  Watergate indictments at the district court ## The Legacy of Watergate [President Richard Nixon](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/president-richard-m-nixon/) went from denying a connection to the burglars to being heard on tape arranging a cover-up of the operation. He would later resign to avoid impeachment or even criminal charges for obstruction of justice. [**Read more**All About Being Vice President (and more)](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/all-about-being-vice-president-and-more/) The term Watergate is now tied to political corruption and controversy nearly 40 years after the event. What happened at Watergate? How deep was the president’s involvement in Watergate? ## What Happened at Watergate? The central part of the Watergate scandal was a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee within the Watergate complex in [Washington, DC](https://constitutionus.com/constitution/why-isnt-dc-a-state/). While the men involved were labeled as burglars after breaking and entering the offices, there was far more to the story. [**Read more**US Presidents who Never Served in the Military](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/us-presidents-that-never-served-in-military/) They were there to steal documents and to bug the phones of the Democratic Party under the orders of the Committee to Re-elect the President.  President Nixon with Elvis in the Oval Office. ## Why did Watergate even happen? The Republicans and the Democrats were involved in a bitter election campaign where President Nixon sought a second term amid the ongoing [Vietnam War](https://constitutionus.com/war/when-did-vietnam-war-start/). President Nixon was not confident that he would win the second term, so he decided to take drastic action. Nixon’s team decided that it would be beneficial to gain information about the Democratic campaign through [espionage](https://constitutionus.com/law/what-was-the-espionage-act/). Ultimately, they tried to break it into 3 terms. [**Read more**All about the United States Presidents](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/us-presidents/) The first time, they were unable. The second time, their plans went wrong. The third time, they were caught by the police and arrested. The third time, five men returned to the Watergate Office Building on June 17th to fix failed wiretaps. This time, those breaking into the complex included E Howard Hunt, G Gordon Liddy, and James McCord. ## Uncovering the Cover-Up Created by Nixon and the Republicans Evidence grew about a connection between the break-in and the re-election campaign. It also seemed that funds linked to the campaign had paid those involved. The real question was how far up in the White House the orders were given. The only thing that the Republicans could do at this point was cover up the affair and insist that they had no involvement whatsoever.  Egil Krogh, who was tried and convicted of burglary in the Watergate Affair Men such as White House Counsel John Dean had initially done enough to shift the blame and keep the public on the Nixon administration’s side. In November of that year, Nixon was re-elected with ease and started his second term the following January. None of Nixon’s tricks were needed for his re-election campaign. ## A Doomed Second Term The situation began sour early in President Nixon’s second term as some conspirators were indicted and pleaded guilty to avoid a trial. The issue for Nixon refused to go away as those skeptical of his alleged lack of involvement dug deeper, particularly Washington Post reporters. The Nixon White House would face questions throughout the year, culminating in the famous speech in which he declared, “I am not a crook.”  ### Get Smarter on US News, History, and the Constitution Join the thousands of fellow patriots who rely on our 5-minute newsletter to stay informed on the key events and trends that shaped our nation's past and continue to shape its present. This line would come back to haunt him when all was later revealed.  Watergate was one of the most damaging scandals to ever hit the White House. Nixon knew much about what was happening and had even arranged to pay off the burglars to keep them quiet. On top of this, there was a plan to get the CIA involved in halting the FBI investigation. As more conspirators gave up key information, it was harder and harder for Nixon to avoid being indicted himself. Former White House counsel Charles Colson, former assistant to Nixon John Ehrlichman, White House Chief of Staff HR Haldeman, and former United States [Attorney General](https://constitutionus.com/law/what-were-the-palmer-raids/) John Mitchell were all later indicted following an investigation by Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. ## The Influence of Deep Throat Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered a lot of what was really going on while working for the Washington Post. They were helped by an informant who went by the name Deep Throat. At the time, Deep Throat was an anonymous whistleblower who helped direct the two reporters toward the truth behind the cover-up and intentions of the break-in. Deep Throat was later revealed to be the former associate director of the FBI, W. Mark Felt.  Watergate Complex in Washington DC. ## The Smoking Gun Tape The biggest blow came when it was revealed by Deputy Assistant to President Richard M Nixon, Alexander Butterfield, in June 1973 that all conversations in the Oval Office were taped and that there would be a tape available with evidence of the cover-up. While there were attempts to use presidential privilege to keep the tapes classified, this failed, and eventually, the Nixon administration was compelled to hand them over. This led to the revelation of the Smoking Gun Tape, where Nixon was heard talking about the cover-up. ## Richard Nixon’s Resignation and Pardon The release of the Smoking Gun Tape was the beginning of the end of Nixon’s time as [President of the United States](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/list-of-presidents/). The evidence against him was now clear, and Congress had a strong case for [impeachment](https://constitutionus.com/constitution/what-does-the-constitution-say-about-impeachment/). There was strong support for impeachment from both political parties because President Nixon had obstructed justice. Nixon was informed of this change in circumstances at the Oval Office on August 7th and advised to resign.  Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon after succeeding him as president. The following evening, he delivered a speech to the public via a national broadcast announcing his plan to leave office. He expressed his regrets about having to do so. He also said that Vice President Ford would be taking over. There was no admission of guilt. The next day, [Nixon signed his resignation letter](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/why-did-nixon-resign/) and boarded a helicopter to leave Washington. [Gerald Ford](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/president-gerald-r-ford/) assumed the presidency after that. At this point, Nixon still faced the possibility of a trial and criminal conviction. However, on September 8th, Ford issued a [presidential pardon](https://constitutionus.com/presidents/why-do-presidents-pardon/) to Nixon for any involvement he may have had. Ford saw his pardon as a way to draw a line under the affair and leave the former president in peace. There were rumors that Nixon had agreed to resign on the condition that this pardon would happen. The Whitehouse has denied this.  Judge Sirica looking over papers from the Watergate Scandal. He presided over the court cases of those arrested for breaking into the Watergate Complex. ## The Legacy of the Watergate Scandal Although Nixon maintained that he was innocent right until his death, the Smoking Gun Tape suggests otherwise. The Watergate scandal was swept under the rug after 1974 but has never been forgotten and will go down as one of the biggest White House scandals to ever occur. We only have to look at how we talk about subsequent scandals to see the effect. Whenever a situation has the suffix gate attached to it, it is a nod to the Watergate affair.