Purpose of Watergate
On June 17, 1972 a robbery occurred inside the office of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. The robbers were caught while attempting to wiretap phones and steal secret documents. Many people were not sure whether Richard Nixon was involved with the Watergate espionage operation before it happened, but Nixon knew he had to cover it up. He gave "hush money" for the burglars, and tried to stop the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from investigation the crime. He would destroy evidence and would fire uncooperative staff members. After this had happened some of the conspirators began to reveal some information about the Watergate Scandal. John Dean a White House counsel said that Nixon has secretly taped every conversation about planning the robbery in the Oval Office. Richard Nixon tried to protect the tapes as long as he could, but Eventually, Nixon agreed to surrender some but not all of the tapes. In August 1974, after Nixon's role in the Watergate conspiracy had finally come to an end, ten days after the tapes were handed over he would resign as president. On 8 September 1974 immediately after resigning Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Ford for all the crimes he committed or may have committed while in office. Nixon was never prosecuted for the Watergate scandal, but this changed American politics forever. Many Americans had been deeply dismayed by the outcomes of the Vietnam War, than Watergate added further disappointment in the nation by the difficulties and losses that just occurred.
-Julian S.
-Julian S.