Justice versus Conscience

The key points of the fall of President Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal include:

1. Break-In at the DNC Headquarters: On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. They were found to have ties to Nixon’s re-election campaign.

2. Initial Cover-Up: The Nixon administration initially attempted to cover up its involvement in the break-in. High-level officials were implicated in obstructing justice by trying to prevent the investigation from revealing the administration’s role.

3. Investigative Journalism: Journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post played a crucial role in uncovering the scandal. Their reporting, based on information from a source known as “Deep Throat” (later revealed to be FBI Associate Director Mark Felt), exposed the depth of the administration’s involvement.

4. Senate Watergate Committee: In 1973, the Senate established a special committee to investigate the Watergate affair. Televised hearings brought the scandal into the homes of millions of Americans, increasing public awareness and concern.

5. Revelation of the Tapes: It was revealed that Nixon had a tape-recording system in the White House that recorded many conversations. These tapes became central to the investigation.

6. Saturday Night Massacre: On October 20, 1973, in an event known as the “Saturday Night Massacre,” Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who had been appointed to investigate the scandal. This led to the resignation of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, causing a public outcry.

7. Supreme Court Ruling: In July 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Nixon had to release the tapes. The tapes provided undeniable evidence of Nixon’s involvement in the cover-up.

8. Impeachment Process: The House Judiciary Committee adopted articles of impeachment against Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress.

9. Nixon’s Resignation: Facing certain impeachment and removal from office, Nixon announced his resignation on August 8, 1974, effective the following day. He became the first U.S. president to resign.

10. Aftermath and Pardoning: Gerald Ford, who succeeded Nixon as President, granted him a full pardon on September 8, 1974, for any crimes he might have committed while in office. This was a controversial decision intended to help the country move past the scandal.

These points encapsulate the major events and implications of the Watergate scandal, which led to the unprecedented resignation of a U.S. president and had a lasting impact on American politics and public trust in government.