Watergate

Electronic surveillance equipment installed at Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate building

May 28, 1972

Electronic surveillience equipment was installed in the headquarters. This was an effort to try to make the building safer. This would end up hurting many.

Five men are arrested while attempting to repair the surveillance equipment at Democratic National Committee headquarters.

Jun 17, 1972

These five men tried to bug the surveilence equipment to find out secrets. They were also caught stealing money.

President Nixon announces that John Dean has completed an investigation into the Watergate buggings and that no one from the White House is involved.

Aug 30, 1972

People were donating to a fake account thinking that it was a re-election fund. The buggers set this up in order to steal money.

Seven men are indicted for their roles in the June break-in

Sep 15, 1972

They were arrested for bugging the headquarters. These invasions of privacy (bugs) led to things being leaked to the public.

U.S. Senate creates Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities.

Feb 7, 1973

There was an exclusive group of politicians formed that was called the "Select Committee". They were the ones who had to deal with the leaked information.

White House issues statement denying President had prior knowledge of Watergate affair.

Apr 23, 1973

John Dean did not want to be the scapegoat for the controversies. He did not write any reports, and avoided covering up Nixon's mistakes.

White House staff members H.R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, and John Dean resign

Apr 30, 1973

Nixon was left no choice but to take the men to Camp David and ask them to resign. He then took to the camera and did his first broadcast regarding the Watergate Scandal.

President Nixon informs Senate Committee that he will not appear to testify nor grant access to Presidential files

Jul 7, 1973

Nixon said that he would not talk about the presidential files. He then said that it was because it was an "executive privelage".

Alexander Butterfield informs Senate Committee of the presence of a White House taping system

Jul 16, 1973

It was said that there was recording equipment in the white house. The recordings made from this machine were known as the Nixon tapes. Nixon got in a lot of trouble for these tapes.

President Nixon refuses to comply with a subpoena for White House tapes and documents to investigate cover-up

Jul 25, 1973

Nixon knew that everything he said was on tape and he did not want the scandal to get out. He was worried because he had been caught.

President Nixon agrees to hand over tapes to comply with subpoena

Oct 23, 1973

Nixon was threatened with impeachment for not giving the tapes to officials. The congress was also furious about the "Saturday Night Massacre".

Senate Committee announces discovery of 18 ½ minute gap on tape of Nixon-Haldeman conversation of June 20, 1972

Nov 21, 1973

Nixon tried to cover up his mistakes. He wiped out 18.5 minutes of one of his conversations to avoid being caught in the scandal.

Special Prosecutor issues subpoena for 64 White House tapes

Apr 16, 1974

It was suspected that President Nixon was involved in the scandal and the government wanted more proof to support their argument for impeachment. There were many tapes of Nixon confessing to the scandal.

House Judiciary Committee adopts article I of impeachment resolution against the President

Jul 27, 1974

He was being impeached for obstructing the Watergate scandal. He tried hiding it, which is a federal crime.

House Judiciary Committee adopts article II of impeachment resolution against the President

Jul 29, 1974

Nixon was being impeached for misuse of power. He abused his presidency, which resulted in his impeachment.

House Judiciary Committee adopts article III of impeachment resolution against the President

Jul 30, 1974

He was being impeached for not handing over the tapes when he was told that he had to. There was a subpoena for each tape, and he failed to comply.

President Richard Nixon resigns

Aug 9, 1974

Nixon lost all of his support in the Congress. Vice President Ford was sworn into office.

President Gerald Ford pardons former President Nixon

Sep 8, 1974

Gerald Ford forgave Nixon for all of the crimes he had commited. He wanted to let the past be the past.