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Nixon Reclaims Presidency

Nov 5, 1968

Richard Nixon (55), former vice president who lost the presidency for the Republicans in 1960, reclaimed it by defeating Hubert Humphrey in one of the closest elections in U.S. history.

Nixon Approves Plan/Changes Mind

Jul 23, 1970

Nixon approves a plan for greatly expanding domestic intelligence-gathering by the FBI, CIA and other agencies. He has second thoughts a few days later and rescinds his approval.

"Pentagon Papers"

Jun 13, 1971

The New York Times begins publishing the Pentagon Papers – the Defense Department’s secret history of the Vietnam War. The Washington Post will begin publishing the papers later in the week.

Five Men Arrested at Watergate Hotel

Jun 16, 1972

7 men break in to the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) headquarters in room 214 of the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., located on the sixth floor of one of the Watergate complex's buildings. One of these men, G. Gordon Liddy, was a former FBI agent. Another, E. Howard Hunt, had retired from the CIA. James McCord would handle the bugging, Bernard Barker would photograph documents, and Virgilio Gonzalez would pick the locks.

$25k Check Winds Up in Watergate Burglar's Account

Aug 1, 1972

The Washington Post reports that a $25,000 cashier’s check, apparently earmarked for the Nixon campaign, wound up in the bank account of a Watergate burglar,

Nixon is Re-Elected

Nov 11, 1972

Nixon is re-elected in one of the largest landslides in American political history, taking more than 60% of the vote and crushing George McGovern, Democratic nominee of South Dakota.

Nixon's Former Aids Convicted in Watergate Incident

Jan 30, 1973

Former Nixon aids G. Gordon Liddy and James W. McCord Jr. are convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and wiretapping in the Watergate incident. 5 other men plead guilty, but mysteries remain.

White House Taping System Disconnected

Jul 18, 1973

Nixon reportedly orders the White House taping system disconnected.

Nixon Refuses to Turn Over Presidential Tape Recordings

Jul 23, 1973

Nixon refuses to turn over the presidential tape recordings to the Senate Watergate committee or the special prosecutor.

"Saturday Night Massacre"

Oct 20, 1973

Nixon fires Archibald Cox and abolishes the office of the special prosecutor. Attorney General Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William D. Ruckelshaus resign. Pressure for impeachment mounts in Congress.

Unexplained Gap in Tapes

Dec 7, 1973

White House can’t explain an 18.5 minute gap in one of the subpoenaed tapes. Chief of Staff Alexander Haig says "some sinister force” erased the segment.

White House Releases Edited Transcripts

Apr 30, 1974

White House releases 1,200+ pages of edited transcripts of the Nixon tapes to the House Judiciary Committee, but the committee insists that the tapes themselves must be turned over.

Nixon Must Turn Over Tapes

Jul 24, 1974

The Supreme Court rules that Nixon must turn over the tape recordings of 64 White House conversations, rejecting the president’s claims of executive privilege.

1st Article of Impeachment Passed

Jul 27, 1974

House Judiciary Committee passes the 1st of 3 articles of impeachment, charging obstruction of justice.

Nixon Resigns

Aug 8, 1974

Richard Nixon becomes the first U.S. president to resign. Vice President Gerald R. Ford takes place of the country’s highest office and later pardons Nixon of all charges related to the Watergate case.