Watergate and Nixon's resignation
On June 17, 1972, five men were caught burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate apartment and office complex in Washington, D.C. Their arrest eventually uncovered a White House-sponsored plan of espionage that was directed against political opponents. In the unfolding of this scandal many of America's highest-ranking officials were found to be involved. Some of these included Attorney General John Mitchell, White House Counsel John Dean, White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman, White House Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs John Ehrlichman, and it eventually it led to the highest ranking official of them all - Richard Nixon, the President of the United States.
On April 30, 1973, following a Grand Jury investigation of the burglary, Nixon accepted the resignation of Haldeman and Ehrlichman and announced the dismissal of Dean. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst resigned as well. In May the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Activities opened hearings on the case. Soon a series of startling revelations were discovered. Dean testified that Mitchell had ordered the break-in and that there was a major attempt by the White House to hide it's involvement. Dean even testified that the President himself had authorized payments to the burglars to keep them quiet. Throughout the next year many pieces of evidence were brought up that either pointed to the president himself or to one of his staff members. During this period Nixon's support steadily decreased. On August 5, 1974, three tapes were released that revealed the Nixon had ordered the FBI to stop investigating the Watergate break-in. The tapes also showed that Nixon had personally involved himself in the attempted cover-up of the whole affair.
After the release of those tapes Nixon faced almost certain impeachment. Rather than face the hassle and embarrassment of being impeached, Nixon decided instead to resign. On August 9, 1974 Nixon became the first president to resign. A month later his successor, Gerald Ford, pardoned him for all crimes he might of committed and Nixon became immune to Federal prosecution.
For more information on this topic read Mike's research paper on Watergate.
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