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Watergate: A Clear Timeline
A timeline of the Watergate scandal, from the 1972 break-in to the White House tapes, the Saturday Night Massacre and President Nixon’s resignation in 1974.
Key takeaways
- Watergate began with a 1972 break-in at Democratic headquarters and grew into a cover-up reaching the White House.
- Secret Oval Office tapes, released after a Supreme Court ruling, proved President Nixon’s role in the cover-up.
- Facing near-certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, the only US president to do so.
On this page
Watergate is the scandal against which all American political scandals are measured, and the reason so many later ones end in “-gate.” It began with a bungled burglary and ended with the resignation of a president. Here’s how it unfolded.
The timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 17, 1972 | Five men are arrested breaking into Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex in Washington |
| Summer–fall 1972 | Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein link the burglars to President Nixon’s re-election campaign |
| November 7, 1972 | Nixon wins re-election in a landslide, carrying 49 states |
| January 1973 | The burglars and two former White House aides are convicted or plead guilty |
| April 30, 1973 | Top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resign; White House counsel John Dean is fired |
| May 1973 | The Senate Watergate Committee begins televised hearings; Archibald Cox is appointed special prosecutor |
| June 1973 | Dean testifies that Nixon was involved in the cover-up |
| July 16, 1973 | Aide Alexander Butterfield reveals a secret taping system in the Oval Office |
| October 20, 1973 | The “Saturday Night Massacre”: Nixon orders Cox fired; the attorney general and his deputy resign rather than do it |
| November 17, 1973 | Nixon tells reporters, “I’m not a crook” |
| March 1, 1974 | Seven former aides are indicted; a grand jury secretly names Nixon an unindicted co-conspirator |
| July 24, 1974 | The Supreme Court rules unanimously in United States v. Nixon that he must hand over the tapes |
| July 27–30, 1974 | The House Judiciary Committee approves three articles of impeachment |
| August 5, 1974 | The “smoking gun” tape shows Nixon approved a plan to obstruct the FBI’s investigation days after the break-in |
| August 9, 1974 | Nixon resigns; Gerald Ford becomes president |
| September 8, 1974 | Ford pardons Nixon for any federal crimes he may have committed as president |
What the scandal was really about
The break-in itself was only the start. Investigations revealed a wider pattern of abuses by people around the president, including political spying and sabotage, secret campaign funds and attempts to use government agencies against opponents. The central offense was the cover-up: efforts to pay the burglars for their silence, destroy evidence and block investigations.
The role of the press and “Deep Throat”
Woodward and Bernstein’s reporting kept the story alive when many dismissed it. Their most famous anonymous source, nicknamed “Deep Throat,” was revealed in 2005 to be Mark Felt, the FBI’s former associate director.
The tapes
Nixon’s secret recording system captured thousands of hours of conversations. He fought to keep the tapes private, citing executive privilege, until the Supreme Court ruled against him. One recording contained an unexplained 18½-minute gap. The June 23, 1972, “smoking gun” conversation destroyed his remaining support in Congress.
The aftermath
Dozens of officials and campaign aides were convicted of crimes, including Nixon’s former attorney general, John Mitchell. Congress passed reforms on campaign finance and government ethics, and public trust in government fell sharply.
Watergate replaced the 1920s Teapot Dome scandal as America’s defining political scandal. For a story where a government cover-up spiraled over years in another country, read about the Dreyfus Affair.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Watergate?
The break-in took place at the Watergate complex, an office and apartment building in Washington, DC.
Was Nixon impeached?
No. The House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment, but Nixon resigned before the full House voted.
Did Nixon order the break-in?
There’s no conclusive evidence he ordered it. The tapes proved he took part in the cover-up, which is what forced him out.
Sources
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