-
Daniel Ellsberg Leaks Classified Information
Daniel Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers to various press sources, causing Nixon to panic and send his men to collect information from Ellsberg’s psychiatrist. Some of the same men Nixon sent to investigate Ellsberg committed the watergate scandal, which is why Nixon was trying so hard to keep both covered up. -
Nixon’s Attempts to Gain Intel on Opponents
Richard Nixon was known by his inner circle to want classified information so he could win the election by a major landslide. This was a driving force in why the Watergate scandal happened. The men who planned it out believed they were doing it for the good of the president. -
4 of the 5 Men Go to Court
After these men were arrested, they were found with $2300 in cash. This was suspicious and they were investigated for money laundering. They were found out to be there gathering intel, though they wouldn’t say who was paying them. -
“Deep Throat” Providing Information to the Media
Former FBI director Mark Felt provided a local news source with Classified Information under the pseudonym Deep Throat. -
Team of 5 Men Get Arrested
The Watergate team was found out after security guard Frank Wills saw the tape they had placed on the door. They were arrested. -
Nixon Not Destroying the Tapes
Nixon had a full week to destroy any incriminating tapes but he did not. This lead to him eventually having to turn over all of them. He had his secretary, Rosemary, pretend to accidentally delete 18 and a half minutes of incriminating tapes once they were already in the public eye, raising more suspicion. -
Saturday Night Massacre
Nixon fired his entire “inner circle”. This was a big deal, since they were his trusted crew. He also attempted to get both the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General to fire the special prosecutor but they both resigned.