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The Capture
The first people were caught during a break-in at the Watergate Hotel. The hotel was being used at the Democratic Headquarters in Washington D.C. for the upcomming election. The burglars were arrested for wiretapping phones and stealing secrete documents. -
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Watergate and Iran-Contra
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The Washington Post Creates a Series
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward began reporting the first stories in a series about the break-ins. -
Nixon Wins Re-election By A Landslide
Even though the break-ins were starting to unveil a scandal possibly including Nixon, he still won re-eceltion by a landslide. This was because the public paid no attention to it until after the election. -
James McCord is Convicted
Former officer for the CIA and FBI James McCord was charged with conspiracy, burglary and bugging the Democratic Party's Watergate headquarters. He was one of the first to fall in the Watergate Scandal. His famous piece of tape that he left on a door helped alert a secirity guard to the break-ins. -
Spiro Agnew Resigns
Aware of the Watergate Scandal, Agnew resigned because he would not be fit to run the country after Nixon. He was facing legal troubles of his own. Agnew was facing charges of extortion, bribery, and income-tax violations while he was the governor of Maryland. -
The Saturday Night Massacre
Nixon ordered the first special prosecutor, Archibald Cox to be fired because Cox was trying to get tapes from the President. Nixon ordered the man who had hired him, Attorney General Elliott Richardson, to fire Cox. Both Richardson and his top deputy refused to comply so they resigned. General Robert H. Bork fired Cox. -
The Supreme Court Rules
Leon Jaworski succeeded Cox as Special Prosecutor and sued President Nixon for the tapes Cox tried to get. Nixon appealed saying nobody could sue the President and that the tapes were private. On this date, the Supreme Court rulled that the President is not over the law and that he must turn over the tapes. -
Nixon Resigns
Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency on this date. He spoke publically on television. This made President Ford the first non-elected President in history. -
The Sandinistas Come to Power
On this date the Sandinistas officially came to power in Nicaragua, over throwing the dictator Anastasio Somoza. -
Americans Taken Hostage
In a U.S. embassy in Iran, fifty-two Americans were taken hostage by Iranian students. They were held captive for 444 days. -
U.S. Imposes Embargo on Iran
The U.S. declared an embargo on Iran on this date. This would be an important event later on when the scandal unfolds. -
The Hostages are Released!
On this date the hostages in the American embassy are released. -
Reagan Signs an Authorization
This authorization Reagan signed was a secret and it described the operation with Iran as an arms-for-hostages deal. -
Poindexter is Convicted
Poindexter was convicted of conspiracy, two counts of obstructing Congress and two counts of making false statements. -
President Bush Pardons All In Iran-Contra Scandal
On this date, President George H. W. Bush pardoned all involved in the Iran-Contra scandal. It was officiallly over.
