During the early morning hours of June 17, 1972, five men working for Nixon’s reelection campaign crept into Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. Intending to repair a bugging device installed in an earlier break-in, they were discovered and arrested. Nixon and his aides then tried to cover up the intruders’ connection to administration officials, setting in motion a serious scandal that reporters dubbed Watergate. I encourage you to complete your own research prior to answering and discussing the following question.
What was Watergate’s legacy for American politics in the following decade? In your answer, consider what led to Nixon’s resignation and steps Congress took to try and prevent such abuses of power in the future.