Smoking Gun
After the arrest Nixon decided to take preliminary precautions to save himself. On June 23rd President Nixon and the Chief of staff agreed over a recorded phone conversation to order the CIA to interrupt the FBI investigations of break-in. This act was a complete obstruction of justice which Nixon should have been punished for. The conversation came to be known as the "Smoking Gun". Despite his cunning attempts, in September 1972 Hunt, Liddy and 5 other burglars were convicted. The public did not know that these events were linked and so Nixon was reelected for presidency.
Watergate Investigation
February 1973 a committee was assembled to further investigate the break-in. That same year, Nixon and his council John W. Dean II made a plan to cover up the administration's involvement. He paid convicts to be silent. After trials and resignations, 5 men who were arrested in the Watergate Hotel went to prison for burglary, conspiracy, and wiretapping. G. Gordon Liddy was sentenced to six to twenty years of prison but was pardoned early by President Ford. Hunt 33 months in prison. Nixon was also sentenced to time in prison. He avoided that when President Ford pardoned him from it in 1974
Resignations
Many white house officials resigned because of this scandal. John Dean, fired by Nixon, showed documentation of Nixon's involvement in the scandal. In 1974 the house representatives decided to impeach President Nixon. The Smoke Gun tapes were released and 4 days later Nixon formally resigned from office. Find the video of his resignation speech below.
Elena F.
Elena F.