Explore the key events of the Watergate scandal, a political scandal in the United States that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. This timeline covers the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972, the subsequent investigations, and the major revelations leading up to Nixon's resignation in 1974.
On September 8, 1974, President Gerald Ford granted a full and unconditional pardon to Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed against the United States while president. Ford's decision was highly controversial, leading to accusations of a 'corrupt bargain,' but he defended the pardon as a means to help the country move forward from the Watergate scandal.
On August 8, 1974, facing almost certain impeachment due to the Watergate scandal and the release of incriminating evidence from the White House tapes, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation. Nixon's resignation marked the first time in U.S. history that a sitting president voluntarily left office under such circumstances.
On July 24, 1974, the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled in United States v. Nixon that President Nixon must release the White House tapes to the special prosecutor. This decision was a pivotal moment in the Watergate scandal, as it upheld the principle that not even the president is above the law, and the tapes contained evidence implicating Nixon in the cover-up.
On October 20, 1973, in what became known as the 'Saturday Night Massacre,' President Richard Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who was investigating the Watergate scandal. This led to the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus, as they refused to carry out the order, causing a public outcry and raising further suspicions of Nixon's involvement.
On July 13, 1973, during the Senate Watergate hearings, former presidential aide Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of a secret recording system in the Oval Office. This was a major turning point in the investigation, as the tapes were believed to contain crucial information about President Nixon's knowledge and involvement in the Watergate cover-up.
The Senate Watergate Committee began its nationally televised hearings on May 17, 1973, investigating the Watergate scandal. These hearings played a crucial role in unveiling the extent of the involvement of the Nixon administration in the break-in and subsequent cover-up, as witnesses including John Dean provided damning testimonies against key members of the administration.
On June 19, 1972, it was revealed that a notebook belonging to one of the burglars, Bernard Barker, contained the phone number of E. Howard Hunt, a former White House consultant. This evidence linked the Watergate break-in to members of President Nixon's re-election campaign, raising suspicions about the involvement of the Nixon administration in the scandal.
On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. The burglars were intercepted by security guard Frank Wills, who noticed tape covering the latches on some doors and alerted the police. This break-in was later discovered to be connected to the Nixon administration, leading to a massive political scandal.
That's every defining moment so far. New events are added only when the reporting warrants it.
Discover commonly asked questions regarding Watergate scandal. If there are any questions we may have overlooked, please let us know.
What event initiated the Watergate scandal?
What were the major findings of the Senate Watergate Committee's investigation?
How did the Watergate scandal impact future U.S. political reforms?
When did President Nixon resign as a result of the Watergate scandal?