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The Break In
In March 1972, a group within the committee to reelect the president made plans to wiretap the phones at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at the Watergate apartment complex in DC. The first attempt failed, and in the second attempt 5 men were arrested. The money was traced back to Nixon's reelection campaign. -
The Coverup P1
Nixon was not directly involved in the break in. However, he was involved in the coverup. He illegally authorized the CIA to try to persuade the FBI to stop it's investigation of the break in, because "it involved national security. -
The Coverup P2
Nixon advisers launched a scheme to bribe the Watergate defendants into silence, as well as coaching them on how to lie in court -
Reelection
During the months following the break in, the incident was barely noticed by the public. Nixon won the 1972 election by a landslide. -
The Watergate Trial
At the trial of the Watergate burglars in early 1973, all the defendants either pleaded guilty or were found guilty. The judge was not convinced the entire story had been told. The judge gave the burglars life sentences, promising to reduce it if the men cooperated. -
A secret taping system
During the senate hearings, a former presidential assistant revealed the existence of a secret taping system in the presidents office, which could be used to uncover if the president was involved in the scandal. -
Release of the tapes
Nixon released the White House tapes with an 18.5 minute gap. Even with the gap, the tapes revealed his involvement with the Watergate Scandal. -
Resignation
Nixon was the first president to ever resign. Ford was sworn in.