1974: Nixon Resigns: The President Who Fell on the Watergate Scandal
On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first United States president to resign from office, undone by a scandal that began with a bungled burglary. On June 17, 1972, operatives linked to his re-election campaign were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at Washington D.C.’s Watergate complex, planting listening devices and stealing documents. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, guided by the anonymous source ‘Deep Throat’, exposed a vast White House political espionage program illegally funded by campaign donations.
Nixon’s administration destroyed evidence, obstructed investigators, and paid hush money to the burglars. The release of the ‘Smoking Gun’ tape proved Nixon had ordered the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation. Facing near-certain impeachment for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress, Nixon resigned rather than face removal. He was later pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford. In total, 69 people were charged over Watergate; most pleaded guilty or were convicted.
