The Watergate Scandal

The Watergate Scandal

Who?

Five men broke into the DNC's office including Virgilio Gonzalez, Bernard Barker, James McCord, Eugenio Martinez, and Frank Sturgis. In January 30,1973, they were tried by Judge John Sirica. The security guard at the DNC's office, Frank Wills, discovered tape that covered latches on the doors and called the police. The general counsel to CPR (the Committee for the Re-Election of the President), G Gordon Liddy, created the campaign to wire tap the DNC Headquarters and presented it to Chairman, Jeb Stuart Magruder, Attorney General John Mitchell, and Presidential Counsel John Dean. Two of Liddy's subordinates that were involved included Howard Hunt and James McCord. President Nixon's recorded many of his conversations using a tape-recording system. This resulted in Nixon's resignation. The involved Nixon Administration members became known as the "Watergate Seven" this included Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Mitchell, Colson, Gordon C Strachan, Robert Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson. 

What?

The Watergate Scandal was a political scandal that involved a burglary into the Democratic National Committee headquarters by 5 men. The 5 men were caught by a security guard after attempting to break in once more to fix one of the wires that had been originally taped. It was revealed that the burglars had an affiliation with Nixon's CRP when a $25,000 dollar check was found in one of the burglars banks account signs by Attorney General John Mitchell. The FBI began further investigation to reveal more checks that involved the travel and expenses by Nixon's CRP required to hire the men. Over time it became prominent that the Watergate scandal was a minimum amount of the premeditated sabotage and spying against Democrats that was to be funded by Nixon's CRP. Nixon entered a state of paranoia and demanded that his deputy and attorney general resign their positions, this became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." This eventually lead to a decision to impeach Nixon, which ultimately led to his resignation.

When?

On June 17,1972 the Democratic National Committee headquarters was broken into. The FBI revealed evidence of a "money trail" that displayed the CRP's alliance and connection to the break in and the following dates: June 19, 1972; August 1; April/ May 1972; September 29, 1972, and October 10 1972.  Nixon release the transcriptions of his tapes on April 29, 1974. On April 30, 1972 the resignation of H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman was requested by Nixon. John Dean was also fired on this date. The burglars were tried and convicted on January 30, 1973. The "Saturday Night Massacre" occurred on October 20, 1973. On August 8, 1974, the president resigned on national television.

Where?

The Wategate Scandal occured in the United States of America. The break in on the night of June 17th occurred at the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Office Complex In Washington D. C. Nixon had installed a recording system at the White House in the Oval Office. A grand jury in Washington, D. C., took legal action against the Watergate Seven. The Oval Office was also the location in which President Nixon resigned. 

Why?

The overall motive of the break in has never been established. However, it is suggested that the break in, wire tapping, and recording all indicated a desire for information to be used against the Democrats. Many believe that the main target of the break in was Larry O'Brien, the Chairman at the DNC. Although, it is believed by James F. Neal, the prosecutor of the "Watergate Seven" that Nixon did not initiate the break in.