The Watergate Scandal

1972 - 1974

What Was Watergate?

The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal involving President Richard Nixon's administration. It began with the arrest of five men for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972.

The Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power. The scandal ultimately resulted in Nixon becoming the first and only U.S. president to resign from office.

Role of the Press

The Washington Post, led by reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, played a crucial role in uncovering the scandal. Their investigative reporting, aided by the anonymous source known as Deep Throat, helped expose the cover-up and kept the story in the public eye when other outlets had moved on.