🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 49 (from laksa042)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa049.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/complete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/complete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/complete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize","crawl_time":1776191549,"first_indexed_time":1509504696,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,pbs!www,\/newshour\/politics\/complete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize s443","src_root_hash":"9407793774086526849","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"The complete Watergate timeline (it took longer than you realize) | PBS News","meta_descriptions":["Critics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here’s a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon’s resignation."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Amid the controversy over James Comey's firing and the Russia investigations, President Donald Trump's critics --\nmost notably\nRep. Al Green, D-Texas -- have already begun calling for his impeachment. But it could take months, if not longer, for Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller to finish their investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and connections to Mr. Trump's campaign. Which means the final outcome could still be a long way off.\nCritics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here's a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon's resignation, along with a reminder that despite the recent pace of news in Washington, political crises are often slow-burning affairs.\nJune 17, 1972\nFive men are arrested while trying to bug the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate, a hotel and office building in Washington, D.C. A day later, White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler famously called the Watergate break-in a \"third-rate burglary.\" At a press conference June 22, President Nixon denied that the White House was involved in the incident.\nAug. 1, 1972\nThe Washington Post reported that a $25,000 check intended for Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign was deposited in the bank account of one of the Watergate burglars. It was one of the first developments linking the DNC break-in to Nixon's campaign.\nOct. 10, 1972\nThe Post reports the FBI had concluded the Watergate break-in was part of a broader spying effort connected to Nixon's campaign. News of the FBI's findings came two weeks after the Post reported that former Attorney General John Mitchell, who stepped down earlier that year, had controlled a secret fund that paid for spying on the Democratic Party.\nJan. 8, 1973\nThe trial for the Watergate break-in begins.\nJan. 30, 1973\nG. Gordon Liddy, a former Nixon aide, and James McCord, a one-time Nixon aide and former CIA operative, are convicted for their role in spearheading the Watergate break-in.\nApril 30, 1973\nThe scandal reaches the White House, as senior White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resign over Watergate. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst also resigns, and John Dean, the White House counsel, gets fired.\nMay 18, 1973\nAttorney General Elliot Richardson appoints Archibald Cox as special prosecutor to lead the investigation into Nixon's reelection campaign and Watergate. Cox was a respected attorney and law professor, and had served as the United States solicitor general under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.\nREAD MORE: The 'special prosecutor' Democrats want no longer exists\nCox's appointment comes one day after the Senate Watergate Committee begins its public hearings on the scandal. The committee's hearings are nationally televised and, along with Cox's investigation, mark a new phase in the Watergate scandal. It is at these Senate hearings that then-Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., asks one of the most famous questions in American politics: \"What did the president know, and when did he know it?\"\nJuly 23, 1973\nNixon,\nwho taped his conversations and calls in office\n, refuses to give Cox and Senate Watergate investigators the recordings, which became known as the \"Nixon tapes.\" The tapes were believed to contain critical evidence of a cover-up of Nixon's involvement in the break-in; the previous month, Dean, the former White House counsel, acknowledged that he had talked with Nixon about the Watergate matter dozens of times. After Nixon refused to turn the tapes over, both Cox and Senate investigators issue subpoenas for the material.\nOct. 20, 1973\nThe day that becomes known as the \"Saturday Night Massacre.\" Attorney General Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resign in the same night after refusing Nixon's order to fire Cox. Robert Bork, the solicitor general who was acting as attorney general, then followed Nixon's order and fired Cox. Nixon's push to oust Cox, who was leading the independent investigation into the White House misconduct, sparked intense criticism across the political spectrum. Four weeks later, on Nov. 17, Nixon issued his memorable denial: \"I'm not a crook.\"\nMay 9, 1974\nThe House Judiciary Committee starts impeachment proceedings against Nixon.\nJuly 24, 1974\nIn a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tape recordings. The decision came two months after the White House gave the House Judiciary Committee edited transcripts of Nixon's conversations, but did not turn over the actual tapes.\nJuly 27-30, 1974\nThe House Judiciary Committee passes three articles of impeachment against Nixon, for obstruction of justice, misuse of power and contempt of Congress. By approving the charges, the committee sent the impeachment to the floor for a full House vote, but it never occurred.\nAug. 8, 1974\nNixon resigns. In his\nresignation speech\n, Nixon said: \"I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first.\"\nA free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.\nSupport trusted journalism and civil dialogue.","attrs_markdown":"[Full Episode ![](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/april-13-2026-pbs-news-hour-full-episode)\n\n[Monday, Apr 13](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/april-13-2026-pbs-news-hour-full-episode)\n\nClose Menu\n\n[PBS NewsHour](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/ \"PBS NewsHour\")\n\n- [Episodes](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/video)\n- [Podcasts](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/podcasts)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/newsletters)\n\n- [The Latest](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/latest)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics)\n  \n  ![Politics](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [Brooks and Capehart](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/brooks-and-capehart)\n  - [Politics Monday](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/politics-monday)\n  - [Supreme Court](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/supreme-court)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/arts)\n  \n  ![Arts](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [CANVAS](https:\/\/artscanvas.org\/)\n  - [Poetry](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/arts\/poetry)\n  - [Now Read This](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/features\/now-read-this\/)\n- [Nation](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/nation)\n  \n  ![Nation](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [Supreme Court](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/supreme-court)\n  - [Race Matters](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/race-matters)\n  - [Essays](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/essays)\n  - [Brief But Spectacular](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/brief)\n- [World](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/world)\n  \n  ![World](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [Agents for Change](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/world\/agents-for-change)\n  - [Compass Points](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/video\/compass-points)\n- [Economy](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/economy)\n  \n  ![Economy](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [Making Sen\\$e](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/economy\/making-sense)\n  - [Paul Solman](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/author\/paul-solman)\n- [Science](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/science)\n  \n  ![Science](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [The Leading Edge](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/the-leading-edge)\n  - [ScienceScope](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/sciencescope)\n  - [Basic Research](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/basic-research)\n  - [Innovation and Invention](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/invention)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/health)\n  \n  ![Health](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [Horizons](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/video\/horizons)\n  - [Long-Term Care](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/long-term-care)\n- [Education](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/education)\n  \n  ![Education](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [Teachers' Lounge](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/teachers-lounge)\n  - [Student Reporting Labs](https:\/\/studentreportinglabs.org\/)\n- [For Teachers](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/classroom\/)\n  \n  ![Education](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)\n  \n  - [Newshour Classroom](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/classroom\/)\n- [About](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/about)\n  \n  - [Feedback](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/about\/contact-us)\n  - [Funders](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/about\/funders)\n  - [Support](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/support)\n  - [Jobs](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/jobs)\n\nClose Menu\n\nClose Popup\n\n## Share your email and we’ll share the latest news\nExclusive coverage from Lisa Desjardins and the politics team\n\n## What do you think? Leave a respectful comment.\nClose Comment Window\n\n[PBS News](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/ \"PBS News\")\n\nMenu\n\nNotifications\n\n#### Get news alerts from PBS News\n##### Turn on desktop notifications?\nYes\n\nNot now\n\n- [Full Episodes](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/video)\n- [Podcasts](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/podcasts)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/newsletters)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/live)\n\n![U.S. President Richard Nixon (L), in the White House East Room on August 9, 1974. Photo by Reuters](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/uploads\/2017\/05\/RTXJ4K6-1024x812.jpg)\n\n[![Daniel Bush](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/2015\/12\/DanMug-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/author\/daniel-bush)\n\nBy —\n\n[Daniel Bush](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/author\/daniel-bush)   [Daniel Bush](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/author\/daniel-bush)\n\nLeave a comment\n\n0comments\n\nShare\n\n- Copy URL\n  https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/complete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize\n- [Email](mailto:?subject=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize)\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize)\n- [Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&text=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29)\n- [LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&title=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29&summary=Critics%20have%20been%20quick%20to%20compare%20the%20controversy%20surrounding%20the%20White%20House%20and%20Russia%20to%20the%20%20Watergate%20scandal%20that%20forced%20President%20Richard%20Nixon%20to%20resign.%20But%20the%20Watergate%20drama%20took%20longer%20to%20unfold%20--%20more%20than%20two%20years%20--%20than%20%20many%20people%20may%20remember.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20quick%20refresher%20of%20the%20events%20that%20led%20to%20Nixon%E2%80%99s%20resignation.&source=PBS%20NewsHour)\n- [Pinterest](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&description=Critics%20have%20been%20quick%20to%20compare%20the%20controversy%20surrounding%20the%20White%20House%20and%20Russia%20to%20the%20%20Watergate%20scandal%20that%20forced%20President%20Richard%20Nixon%20to%20resign.%20But%20the%20Watergate%20drama%20took%20longer%20to%20unfold%20--%20more%20than%20two%20years%20--%20than%20%20many%20people%20may%20remember.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20quick%20refresher%20of%20the%20events%20that%20led%20to%20Nixon%E2%80%99s%20resignation.)\n- [Tumblr](http:\/\/www.tumblr.com\/share\/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&name=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29&description=Critics%20have%20been%20quick%20to%20compare%20the%20controversy%20surrounding%20the%20White%20House%20and%20Russia%20to%20the%20%20Watergate%20scandal%20that%20forced%20President%20Richard%20Nixon%20to%20resign.%20But%20the%20Watergate%20drama%20took%20longer%20to%20unfold%20--%20more%20than%20two%20years%20--%20than%20%20many%20people%20may%20remember.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20quick%20refresher%20of%20the%20events%20that%20led%20to%20Nixon%E2%80%99s%20resignation.)\n\n[Share on Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize)\n\n[Share on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&text=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29)\n\n# The complete Watergate timeline (it took longer than you realize)\n[Politics](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics)\n\nMay 30, 2017 4:12 PM EDT\n\nAmid the controversy over James Comey's firing and the Russia investigations, President Donald Trump's critics -- [most notably](http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/05\/17\/politics\/al-green-impeachment-call\/) Rep. Al Green, D-Texas -- have already begun calling for his impeachment. But it could take months, if not longer, for Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller to finish their investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and connections to Mr. Trump's campaign. Which means the final outcome could still be a long way off.\n\nCritics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here's a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon's resignation, along with a reminder that despite the recent pace of news in Washington, political crises are often slow-burning affairs.\n\n**June 17, 1972**\n\nFive men are arrested while trying to bug the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate, a hotel and office building in Washington, D.C. A day later, White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler famously called the Watergate break-in a \"third-rate burglary.\" At a press conference June 22, President Nixon denied that the White House was involved in the incident.\n\n**Aug. 1, 1972**\n\nThe Washington Post reported that a \\$25,000 check intended for Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign was deposited in the bank account of one of the Watergate burglars. It was one of the first developments linking the DNC break-in to Nixon's campaign.\n\n**Oct. 10, 1972**\n\nThe Post reports the FBI had concluded the Watergate break-in was part of a broader spying effort connected to Nixon's campaign. News of the FBI's findings came two weeks after the Post reported that former Attorney General John Mitchell, who stepped down earlier that year, had controlled a secret fund that paid for spying on the Democratic Party.\n\n**Jan. 8, 1973**\n\nThe trial for the Watergate break-in begins.\n\n**Jan. 30, 1973**\n\nG. Gordon Liddy, a former Nixon aide, and James McCord, a one-time Nixon aide and former CIA operative, are convicted for their role in spearheading the Watergate break-in.\n\n**April 30, 1973**\n\nThe scandal reaches the White House, as senior White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resign over Watergate. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst also resigns, and John Dean, the White House counsel, gets fired.\n\n**May 18, 1973**\n\nAttorney General Elliot Richardson appoints Archibald Cox as special prosecutor to lead the investigation into Nixon's reelection campaign and Watergate. Cox was a respected attorney and law professor, and had served as the United States solicitor general under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.\n\n**[READ MORE: The 'special prosecutor' Democrats want no longer exists](http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/updates\/special-prosecutor-democrats-want-no-longer-exists\/)**\n\nCox's appointment comes one day after the Senate Watergate Committee begins its public hearings on the scandal. The committee's hearings are nationally televised and, along with Cox's investigation, mark a new phase in the Watergate scandal. It is at these Senate hearings that then-Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., asks one of the most famous questions in American politics: \"What did the president know, and when did he know it?\"\n\n**July 23, 1973**\n\nNixon, [who taped his conversations and calls in office](http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-srv\/national\/longterm\/watergate\/articles\/071773-1.htm), refuses to give Cox and Senate Watergate investigators the recordings, which became known as the \"Nixon tapes.\" The tapes were believed to contain critical evidence of a cover-up of Nixon's involvement in the break-in; the previous month, Dean, the former White House counsel, acknowledged that he had talked with Nixon about the Watergate matter dozens of times. After Nixon refused to turn the tapes over, both Cox and Senate investigators issue subpoenas for the material.\n\n**Oct. 20, 1973**\n\nThe day that becomes known as the \"Saturday Night Massacre.\" Attorney General Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resign in the same night after refusing Nixon's order to fire Cox. Robert Bork, the solicitor general who was acting as attorney general, then followed Nixon's order and fired Cox. Nixon's push to oust Cox, who was leading the independent investigation into the White House misconduct, sparked intense criticism across the political spectrum. Four weeks later, on Nov. 17, Nixon issued his memorable denial: \"I'm not a crook.\"\n\n**May 9, 1974**\n\nThe House Judiciary Committee starts impeachment proceedings against Nixon.\n\n**July 24, 1974**\n\nIn a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tape recordings. The decision came two months after the White House gave the House Judiciary Committee edited transcripts of Nixon's conversations, but did not turn over the actual tapes.\n\n**July 27-30, 1974**\n\nThe House Judiciary Committee passes three articles of impeachment against Nixon, for obstruction of justice, misuse of power and contempt of Congress. By approving the charges, the committee sent the impeachment to the floor for a full House vote, but it never occurred.\n\n**Aug. 8, 1974**\n\nNixon resigns. In his [resignation speech](http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/spc\/character\/links\/nixon_speech.html), Nixon said: \"I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first.\"\n\nA free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.\n\nSupport trusted journalism and civil dialogue.\n\n[Donate now](https:\/\/give.newshour.org\/page\/88646\/donate\/1?ea.tracking.id=pbs_news_sept_2025_article&supporter.appealCode=N2509AW1000100)\n\nLeft: President Richard Nixon says goodbye to family and staff in the White House East Room on August 9, 1974. File photo\n\n## Go Deeper\n- [russia investigations](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/russia-investigations)\n- [watergate](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tag\/watergate)\n\n[![Daniel Bush](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/2015\/12\/DanMug-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/author\/daniel-bush)\n\nBy —\n\n[Daniel Bush](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/author\/daniel-bush)   [Daniel Bush](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/author\/daniel-bush)\n\nDaniel Bush is PBS NewsHour's Senior Political Reporter.\n***\n[@DanielBush](https:\/\/twitter.com\/DanielBush)\n\nSupport Provided By: [Learn more](https:\/\/help.pbs.org\/support\/solutions\/articles\/5000677869)\n\n[![Evergreen\\_WebAd\\_Sidebar\\_DonateNow](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/2026\/01\/Evergreen_WebAd_Sidebar_DonateNow.png)](https:\/\/give.newshour.org\/page\/80037\/donate\/1?ea.tracking.id=pbs_news_evergreen_main_donate&supporter.appealCode=N2600AW0200000)\n\n### Educate your inbox\nSubscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.\n\n[Full Episode ![](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/assets\/images\/placeholder.jpg)](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/april-13-2026-pbs-news-hour-full-episode)\n\n[Monday, Apr 13](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/april-13-2026-pbs-news-hour-full-episode)\n\n- [![Cunard](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/cunardlogo.svg)](https:\/\/www.cunard.com\/en-us)\n- [![BNSF Railway](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/bnsf-railway.png)](https:\/\/www.bnsf.com\/)\n- [![Consumer Cellular](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/consumer-cellular.png)](https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/pbs)\n- [![Raymond James](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/raymond-james.png)](https:\/\/www.raymondjames.com\/)\n- [![Viewers Like You](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/viewers.png)](http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/cgi-registry\/sitemembershiplink.cgir)\n- [![Friends of the News Hour](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/fonh.png)](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/support\/friends-of-the-newshour?utm_source=newshour%20additional%20page&utm_medium=png)\n\n[PBS News](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/ \"PBS News\")\n\n© 1996 - 2026 NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved.\n\nPBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.\n\nSections\n\n- [The Latest](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/latest)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/arts)\n- [Nation](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/nation)\n- [World](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/world)\n- [Economy](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/economy)\n- [Science](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/science)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/health)\n- [Education](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/education)\n\nAbout\n\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/about)\n- [TV Schedule](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/tv-schedule)\n- [Press](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/press-releases)\n- [Feedback](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/about\/contact-us)\n- [Funders](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/about\/funders)\n- [Support](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/support)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/newsletters)\n- [Podcasts](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/podcasts)\n- [Jobs](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/jobs)\n- [Privacy](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/about\/about-pbs\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/about\/about-pbs\/terms-of-use\/)\n\nStay Connected\n\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/newshour)\n- [YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/PBSNewsHour)\n- [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/newshour\/)\n- [X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/NewsHour)\n- [TikTok](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@pbsnews)\n- [Threads](https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@newshour)\n- [RSS](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/feeds\/rss\/headlines)\n\nSubscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins\n\n[Support our journalism](https:\/\/give.newshour.org\/page\/91106\/donate\/1?ea.tracking.id=pbs_news_2025_giving_tuesday_websit_footer_donate&supporter.appealCode=N2511AW03001AA)\n\nSupport for News Hour Provided By\n\n- [![Cunard](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/cunardlogo.svg)](https:\/\/www.cunard.com\/en-us)\n- [![BNSF Railway](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/bnsf-railway.png)](https:\/\/www.bnsf.com\/)\n- [![Consumer Cellular](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/consumer-cellular.png)](https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/pbs)\n- [![Raymond James](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/raymond-james.png)](https:\/\/www.raymondjames.com\/)\n- [![Viewers Like You](https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/newshour\/app\/themes\/pbs-newshour\/assets\/img\/sponsors\/viewers-like-you.png)](http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/cgi-registry\/sitemembershiplink.cgir)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Amid the controversy over James Comey's firing and the Russia investigations, President Donald Trump's critics -- [most notably](http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/05\/17\/politics\/al-green-impeachment-call\/) Rep. Al Green, D-Texas -- have already begun calling for his impeachment. But it could take months, if not longer, for Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller to finish their investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and connections to Mr. Trump's campaign. Which means the final outcome could still be a long way off.\n\nCritics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here's a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon's resignation, along with a reminder that despite the recent pace of news in Washington, political crises are often slow-burning affairs.\n\n**June 17, 1972**\n\nFive men are arrested while trying to bug the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate, a hotel and office building in Washington, D.C. A day later, White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler famously called the Watergate break-in a \"third-rate burglary.\" At a press conference June 22, President Nixon denied that the White House was involved in the incident.\n\n**Aug. 1, 1972**\n\nThe Washington Post reported that a \\$25,000 check intended for Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign was deposited in the bank account of one of the Watergate burglars. It was one of the first developments linking the DNC break-in to Nixon's campaign.\n\n**Oct. 10, 1972**\n\nThe Post reports the FBI had concluded the Watergate break-in was part of a broader spying effort connected to Nixon's campaign. News of the FBI's findings came two weeks after the Post reported that former Attorney General John Mitchell, who stepped down earlier that year, had controlled a secret fund that paid for spying on the Democratic Party.\n\n**Jan. 8, 1973**\n\nThe trial for the Watergate break-in begins.\n\n**Jan. 30, 1973**\n\nG. Gordon Liddy, a former Nixon aide, and James McCord, a one-time Nixon aide and former CIA operative, are convicted for their role in spearheading the Watergate break-in.\n\n**April 30, 1973**\n\nThe scandal reaches the White House, as senior White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resign over Watergate. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst also resigns, and John Dean, the White House counsel, gets fired.\n\n**May 18, 1973**\n\nAttorney General Elliot Richardson appoints Archibald Cox as special prosecutor to lead the investigation into Nixon's reelection campaign and Watergate. Cox was a respected attorney and law professor, and had served as the United States solicitor general under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.\n\n**[READ MORE: The 'special prosecutor' Democrats want no longer exists](http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/updates\/special-prosecutor-democrats-want-no-longer-exists\/)**\n\nCox's appointment comes one day after the Senate Watergate Committee begins its public hearings on the scandal. The committee's hearings are nationally televised and, along with Cox's investigation, mark a new phase in the Watergate scandal. It is at these Senate hearings that then-Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., asks one of the most famous questions in American politics: \"What did the president know, and when did he know it?\"\n\n**July 23, 1973**\n\nNixon, [who taped his conversations and calls in office](http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-srv\/national\/longterm\/watergate\/articles\/071773-1.htm), refuses to give Cox and Senate Watergate investigators the recordings, which became known as the \"Nixon tapes.\" The tapes were believed to contain critical evidence of a cover-up of Nixon's involvement in the break-in; the previous month, Dean, the former White House counsel, acknowledged that he had talked with Nixon about the Watergate matter dozens of times. After Nixon refused to turn the tapes over, both Cox and Senate investigators issue subpoenas for the material.\n\n**Oct. 20, 1973**\n\nThe day that becomes known as the \"Saturday Night Massacre.\" Attorney General Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resign in the same night after refusing Nixon's order to fire Cox. Robert Bork, the solicitor general who was acting as attorney general, then followed Nixon's order and fired Cox. Nixon's push to oust Cox, who was leading the independent investigation into the White House misconduct, sparked intense criticism across the political spectrum. Four weeks later, on Nov. 17, Nixon issued his memorable denial: \"I'm not a crook.\"\n\n**May 9, 1974**\n\nThe House Judiciary Committee starts impeachment proceedings against Nixon.\n\n**July 24, 1974**\n\nIn a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tape recordings. The decision came two months after the White House gave the House Judiciary Committee edited transcripts of Nixon's conversations, but did not turn over the actual tapes.\n\n**July 27-30, 1974**\n\nThe House Judiciary Committee passes three articles of impeachment against Nixon, for obstruction of justice, misuse of power and contempt of Congress. By approving the charges, the committee sent the impeachment to the floor for a full House vote, but it never occurred.\n\n**Aug. 8, 1974**\n\nNixon resigns. In his [resignation speech](http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/spc\/character\/links\/nixon_speech.html), Nixon said: \"I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first.\"\n\nA free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.\n\nSupport trusted journalism and civil dialogue.","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	The complete Watergate timeline (it took longer than you realize) \| PBS News
Meta Description	Critics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here’s a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon’s resignation.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	Amid the controversy over James Comey's firing and the Russia investigations, President Donald Trump's critics -- most notably Rep. Al Green, D-Texas -- have already begun calling for his impeachment. But it could take months, if not longer, for Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller to finish their investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and connections to Mr. Trump's campaign. Which means the final outcome could still be a long way off. Critics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here's a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon's resignation, along with a reminder that despite the recent pace of news in Washington, political crises are often slow-burning affairs. June 17, 1972 Five men are arrested while trying to bug the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate, a hotel and office building in Washington, D.C. A day later, White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler famously called the Watergate break-in a "third-rate burglary." At a press conference June 22, President Nixon denied that the White House was involved in the incident. Aug. 1, 1972 The Washington Post reported that a $25,000 check intended for Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign was deposited in the bank account of one of the Watergate burglars. It was one of the first developments linking the DNC break-in to Nixon's campaign. Oct. 10, 1972 The Post reports the FBI had concluded the Watergate break-in was part of a broader spying effort connected to Nixon's campaign. News of the FBI's findings came two weeks after the Post reported that former Attorney General John Mitchell, who stepped down earlier that year, had controlled a secret fund that paid for spying on the Democratic Party. Jan. 8, 1973 The trial for the Watergate break-in begins. Jan. 30, 1973 G. Gordon Liddy, a former Nixon aide, and James McCord, a one-time Nixon aide and former CIA operative, are convicted for their role in spearheading the Watergate break-in. April 30, 1973 The scandal reaches the White House, as senior White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resign over Watergate. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst also resigns, and John Dean, the White House counsel, gets fired. May 18, 1973 Attorney General Elliot Richardson appoints Archibald Cox as special prosecutor to lead the investigation into Nixon's reelection campaign and Watergate. Cox was a respected attorney and law professor, and had served as the United States solicitor general under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. READ MORE: The 'special prosecutor' Democrats want no longer exists Cox's appointment comes one day after the Senate Watergate Committee begins its public hearings on the scandal. The committee's hearings are nationally televised and, along with Cox's investigation, mark a new phase in the Watergate scandal. It is at these Senate hearings that then-Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., asks one of the most famous questions in American politics: "What did the president know, and when did he know it?" July 23, 1973 Nixon, who taped his conversations and calls in office , refuses to give Cox and Senate Watergate investigators the recordings, which became known as the "Nixon tapes." The tapes were believed to contain critical evidence of a cover-up of Nixon's involvement in the break-in; the previous month, Dean, the former White House counsel, acknowledged that he had talked with Nixon about the Watergate matter dozens of times. After Nixon refused to turn the tapes over, both Cox and Senate investigators issue subpoenas for the material. Oct. 20, 1973 The day that becomes known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." Attorney General Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resign in the same night after refusing Nixon's order to fire Cox. Robert Bork, the solicitor general who was acting as attorney general, then followed Nixon's order and fired Cox. Nixon's push to oust Cox, who was leading the independent investigation into the White House misconduct, sparked intense criticism across the political spectrum. Four weeks later, on Nov. 17, Nixon issued his memorable denial: "I'm not a crook." May 9, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee starts impeachment proceedings against Nixon. July 24, 1974 In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tape recordings. The decision came two months after the White House gave the House Judiciary Committee edited transcripts of Nixon's conversations, but did not turn over the actual tapes. July 27-30, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee passes three articles of impeachment against Nixon, for obstruction of justice, misuse of power and contempt of Congress. By approving the charges, the committee sent the impeachment to the floor for a full House vote, but it never occurred. Aug. 8, 1974 Nixon resigns. In his resignation speech , Nixon said: "I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first." A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.
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Leave a respectful comment. Close Comment Window [PBS News](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/ "PBS News") Menu Notifications #### Get news alerts from PBS News ##### Turn on desktop notifications? Yes Not now - [Full Episodes](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/video) - [Podcasts](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts) - [Newsletters](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/newsletters) - [Live](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/live) ![U.S. President Richard Nixon (L), in the White House East Room on August 9, 1974. Photo by Reuters](https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/newshour/app/uploads/2017/05/RTXJ4K6-1024x812.jpg) [![Daniel Bush](https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2015/12/DanMug-150x150.jpg)](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/daniel-bush) By — [Daniel Bush](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/daniel-bush) [Daniel Bush](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/daniel-bush) Leave a comment 0comments Share - Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/complete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize - [Email](mailto:?subject=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&text=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&title=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29&summary=Critics%20have%20been%20quick%20to%20compare%20the%20controversy%20surrounding%20the%20White%20House%20and%20Russia%20to%20the%20%20Watergate%20scandal%20that%20forced%20President%20Richard%20Nixon%20to%20resign.%20But%20the%20Watergate%20drama%20took%20longer%20to%20unfold%20--%20more%20than%20two%20years%20--%20than%20%20many%20people%20may%20remember.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20quick%20refresher%20of%20the%20events%20that%20led%20to%20Nixon%E2%80%99s%20resignation.&source=PBS%20NewsHour) - [Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&description=Critics%20have%20been%20quick%20to%20compare%20the%20controversy%20surrounding%20the%20White%20House%20and%20Russia%20to%20the%20%20Watergate%20scandal%20that%20forced%20President%20Richard%20Nixon%20to%20resign.%20But%20the%20Watergate%20drama%20took%20longer%20to%20unfold%20--%20more%20than%20two%20years%20--%20than%20%20many%20people%20may%20remember.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20quick%20refresher%20of%20the%20events%20that%20led%20to%20Nixon%E2%80%99s%20resignation.) - [Tumblr](http://www.tumblr.com/share/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&name=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29&description=Critics%20have%20been%20quick%20to%20compare%20the%20controversy%20surrounding%20the%20White%20House%20and%20Russia%20to%20the%20%20Watergate%20scandal%20that%20forced%20President%20Richard%20Nixon%20to%20resign.%20But%20the%20Watergate%20drama%20took%20longer%20to%20unfold%20--%20more%20than%20two%20years%20--%20than%20%20many%20people%20may%20remember.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20quick%20refresher%20of%20the%20events%20that%20led%20to%20Nixon%E2%80%99s%20resignation.) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Fpolitics%2Fcomplete-watergate-timeline-took-longer-realize&text=The%20complete%20Watergate%20timeline%20%28it%20took%20longer%20than%20you%20realize%29) # The complete Watergate timeline (it took longer than you realize) [Politics](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics) May 30, 2017 4:12 PM EDT Amid the controversy over James Comey's firing and the Russia investigations, President Donald Trump's critics -- [most notably](http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/17/politics/al-green-impeachment-call/) Rep. Al Green, D-Texas -- have already begun calling for his impeachment. But it could take months, if not longer, for Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller to finish their investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and connections to Mr. Trump's campaign. Which means the final outcome could still be a long way off. Critics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here's a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon's resignation, along with a reminder that despite the recent pace of news in Washington, political crises are often slow-burning affairs. June 17, 1972 Five men are arrested while trying to bug the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate, a hotel and office building in Washington, D.C. A day later, White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler famously called the Watergate break-in a "third-rate burglary." At a press conference June 22, President Nixon denied that the White House was involved in the incident. Aug. 1, 1972 The Washington Post reported that a \$25,000 check intended for Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign was deposited in the bank account of one of the Watergate burglars. It was one of the first developments linking the DNC break-in to Nixon's campaign. Oct. 10, 1972 The Post reports the FBI had concluded the Watergate break-in was part of a broader spying effort connected to Nixon's campaign. News of the FBI's findings came two weeks after the Post reported that former Attorney General John Mitchell, who stepped down earlier that year, had controlled a secret fund that paid for spying on the Democratic Party. Jan. 8, 1973 The trial for the Watergate break-in begins. Jan. 30, 1973 G. Gordon Liddy, a former Nixon aide, and James McCord, a one-time Nixon aide and former CIA operative, are convicted for their role in spearheading the Watergate break-in. April 30, 1973 The scandal reaches the White House, as senior White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resign over Watergate. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst also resigns, and John Dean, the White House counsel, gets fired. May 18, 1973 Attorney General Elliot Richardson appoints Archibald Cox as special prosecutor to lead the investigation into Nixon's reelection campaign and Watergate. Cox was a respected attorney and law professor, and had served as the United States solicitor general under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. [READ MORE: The 'special prosecutor' Democrats want no longer exists](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/special-prosecutor-democrats-want-no-longer-exists/) Cox's appointment comes one day after the Senate Watergate Committee begins its public hearings on the scandal. The committee's hearings are nationally televised and, along with Cox's investigation, mark a new phase in the Watergate scandal. It is at these Senate hearings that then-Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., asks one of the most famous questions in American politics: "What did the president know, and when did he know it?" July 23, 1973 Nixon, [who taped his conversations and calls in office](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/071773-1.htm), refuses to give Cox and Senate Watergate investigators the recordings, which became known as the "Nixon tapes." The tapes were believed to contain critical evidence of a cover-up of Nixon's involvement in the break-in; the previous month, Dean, the former White House counsel, acknowledged that he had talked with Nixon about the Watergate matter dozens of times. After Nixon refused to turn the tapes over, both Cox and Senate investigators issue subpoenas for the material. Oct. 20, 1973 The day that becomes known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." Attorney General Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resign in the same night after refusing Nixon's order to fire Cox. Robert Bork, the solicitor general who was acting as attorney general, then followed Nixon's order and fired Cox. Nixon's push to oust Cox, who was leading the independent investigation into the White House misconduct, sparked intense criticism across the political spectrum. Four weeks later, on Nov. 17, Nixon issued his memorable denial: "I'm not a crook." May 9, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee starts impeachment proceedings against Nixon. July 24, 1974 In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tape recordings. The decision came two months after the White House gave the House Judiciary Committee edited transcripts of Nixon's conversations, but did not turn over the actual tapes. July 27-30, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee passes three articles of impeachment against Nixon, for obstruction of justice, misuse of power and contempt of Congress. By approving the charges, the committee sent the impeachment to the floor for a full House vote, but it never occurred. Aug. 8, 1974 Nixon resigns. In his [resignation speech](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/spc/character/links/nixon_speech.html), Nixon said: "I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first." A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. [Donate now](https://give.newshour.org/page/88646/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=pbs_news_sept_2025_article&supporter.appealCode=N2509AW1000100) Left: President Richard Nixon says goodbye to family and staff in the White House East Room on August 9, 1974. File photo ## Go Deeper - [russia investigations](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/russia-investigations) - [watergate](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/watergate) [![Daniel Bush](https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2015/12/DanMug-150x150.jpg)](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/daniel-bush) By — [Daniel Bush](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/daniel-bush) [Daniel Bush](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/daniel-bush) Daniel Bush is PBS NewsHour's Senior Political Reporter. *** [@DanielBush](https://twitter.com/DanielBush) Support Provided By: [Learn more](https://help.pbs.org/support/solutions/articles/5000677869) [![Evergreen\_WebAd\_Sidebar\_DonateNow](https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2026/01/Evergreen_WebAd_Sidebar_DonateNow.png)](https://give.newshour.org/page/80037/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=pbs_news_evergreen_main_donate&supporter.appealCode=N2600AW0200000) ### Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. 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Readable Markdown	Amid the controversy over James Comey's firing and the Russia investigations, President Donald Trump's critics -- [most notably](http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/17/politics/al-green-impeachment-call/) Rep. Al Green, D-Texas -- have already begun calling for his impeachment. But it could take months, if not longer, for Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller to finish their investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and connections to Mr. Trump's campaign. Which means the final outcome could still be a long way off. Critics have been quick to compare the controversy surrounding the White House and Russia to the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign. But the Watergate drama took longer to unfold -- more than two years -- than many people may remember. Here's a quick refresher of the events that led to Nixon's resignation, along with a reminder that despite the recent pace of news in Washington, political crises are often slow-burning affairs. June 17, 1972 Five men are arrested while trying to bug the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate, a hotel and office building in Washington, D.C. A day later, White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler famously called the Watergate break-in a "third-rate burglary." At a press conference June 22, President Nixon denied that the White House was involved in the incident. Aug. 1, 1972 The Washington Post reported that a \$25,000 check intended for Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign was deposited in the bank account of one of the Watergate burglars. It was one of the first developments linking the DNC break-in to Nixon's campaign. Oct. 10, 1972 The Post reports the FBI had concluded the Watergate break-in was part of a broader spying effort connected to Nixon's campaign. News of the FBI's findings came two weeks after the Post reported that former Attorney General John Mitchell, who stepped down earlier that year, had controlled a secret fund that paid for spying on the Democratic Party. Jan. 8, 1973 The trial for the Watergate break-in begins. Jan. 30, 1973 G. Gordon Liddy, a former Nixon aide, and James McCord, a one-time Nixon aide and former CIA operative, are convicted for their role in spearheading the Watergate break-in. April 30, 1973 The scandal reaches the White House, as senior White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resign over Watergate. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst also resigns, and John Dean, the White House counsel, gets fired. May 18, 1973 Attorney General Elliot Richardson appoints Archibald Cox as special prosecutor to lead the investigation into Nixon's reelection campaign and Watergate. Cox was a respected attorney and law professor, and had served as the United States solicitor general under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. [READ MORE: The 'special prosecutor' Democrats want no longer exists](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/special-prosecutor-democrats-want-no-longer-exists/) Cox's appointment comes one day after the Senate Watergate Committee begins its public hearings on the scandal. The committee's hearings are nationally televised and, along with Cox's investigation, mark a new phase in the Watergate scandal. It is at these Senate hearings that then-Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., asks one of the most famous questions in American politics: "What did the president know, and when did he know it?" July 23, 1973 Nixon, [who taped his conversations and calls in office](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/071773-1.htm), refuses to give Cox and Senate Watergate investigators the recordings, which became known as the "Nixon tapes." The tapes were believed to contain critical evidence of a cover-up of Nixon's involvement in the break-in; the previous month, Dean, the former White House counsel, acknowledged that he had talked with Nixon about the Watergate matter dozens of times. After Nixon refused to turn the tapes over, both Cox and Senate investigators issue subpoenas for the material. Oct. 20, 1973 The day that becomes known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." Attorney General Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resign in the same night after refusing Nixon's order to fire Cox. Robert Bork, the solicitor general who was acting as attorney general, then followed Nixon's order and fired Cox. Nixon's push to oust Cox, who was leading the independent investigation into the White House misconduct, sparked intense criticism across the political spectrum. Four weeks later, on Nov. 17, Nixon issued his memorable denial: "I'm not a crook." May 9, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee starts impeachment proceedings against Nixon. July 24, 1974 In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court orders Nixon to release the tape recordings. The decision came two months after the White House gave the House Judiciary Committee edited transcripts of Nixon's conversations, but did not turn over the actual tapes. July 27-30, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee passes three articles of impeachment against Nixon, for obstruction of justice, misuse of power and contempt of Congress. By approving the charges, the committee sent the impeachment to the floor for a full House vote, but it never occurred. Aug. 8, 1974 Nixon resigns. In his [resignation speech](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/spc/character/links/nixon_speech.html), Nixon said: "I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first." 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