Watergate

             on the morning of June 17, 1972 police arrived at the Watergate Complex in downtown Washington D. They arrested five men for the burglary of the democratic national committee headquarters, in what seemed to be a routine break-in. Over the next two years what unfolded from this simple crime would become the greatest political scandal in American history. The trail of conspirators involved in the break-in would lead to several employees of President Richard Nixon's reelection committee. The cover-up that ensued would cost Nixon his office and tarnish his political career forever.
             The men apprehended that night in 1972 would turn out to be employees of CREEP, The Committee to Re-Elect the President. They were attempting to repair a broken wiretap that they had planted in the office sometime before and were charged with breaking and entering along with attempting to bug a public facility. That November Nixon was was reelected by one of the largest margins in presidential history.
             It seemed as if the ordeal would come to an end until a senate committee investigating corrupt campaign practices televised their inquiry into the Watergate affair and pushed it to the forefront of national political news. Seven men, the five men apprehended at Watergate, former Nixon aide G. Gordon Liddy, and former aide James W. McCord Jr., were convicted of breaking and entering, wiretapping, and conspiracy. The White House counsel, John Dean, testified that former Attorney General John Mitchell, chief White House adviser John Ehrlichman, and chief White House adviser H. R. Haldeman had not only had prior knowledge of the incident but had also approved its execution and eventual coverup. Both Ehrlichman and Haldeman resigned; Dean was fired shortly thereafter. .
             The interrogations of the men arrested would also lead to some of the highest positions within the executive branch. President Nixon was immediately questioned on the matter and he denied any connection or prior knowledge of the events that took place that night.