The Watergate Scandal started the morning of June 17, 1972 when several men were arrested for stealing from the Democratic National which is located in the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. the men were caught trying to wiretap phone and steal documents. At the same time, Richard Nixon was president and was trying to get elected for a second term in the White House. It later was discovered that Nixon had payed the men to rob the building so that he could cheat in the reelection.
People didn’t immediately connected Nixon to the break in but authorities had some spacision. In August 1972, Nixon gave a speech swearing on his staff that he had nothing to do with it and most people believed him and elected him in November against George McGovern. As time went on, more and more people became suspicious of Nixon. The court and lawyers soon became aware that Nixon had taped over the tapes of every conversation that had taken place in the oval office and if they got the tapes they would have proof that Nixon was behind the robbery. Nixon wouldn’t give over the tapes for a long time, his lawyers saying he had “executive privilege” to keep the tapes. Eventually he said he would hand over some of the tapes but not all. In July of 1974,the supreme court ordered Nixon to turn over all of the tapes and the House of Representatives voted to impeach Nixon. Knowing the tapes would for sure make him guilty, he resigned on August 8th and six weeks later Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as President and pardoned Nixon for all crimes he committed while in the White House. |
richard nixon37th President of the United States 1969-1974
Gerald Ford
38th President of the United States 1974-1977
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