1. Watergate Scandal
Unit 12

2. The Act
May 28, 1972
Nixon, paranoid of losing the election, has a group of men bug the DNC Headquarters in the Watergate Building.

3. Caught
June 17, 1972
5 Men are caught trying to repair the illegally implanted surveillance equipment
August 30, 1972
Nixon lies and announces that after an investigation no one from the White House was involved

4. The Criminal Investigation
September 15, 1973 – Jan 8, 1973
Indicted, convicted, and/or plead guilty
Bernard Barker
Gordon Lidd
Eugenio Martinez
James McCord
Howard Hunt
Frank Sturgis
Virgilio Gonzales

5. The Senate Investigation
Feb 17, 1973
Congressman from the Senate create a special committee: Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities
This committee will further investigate the White House and its behaviors surrounding Watergate

6. Starting to Come Apart April 23, 1973
White House issues statements denying that the President had any knowledge of any wrong doing
7 days later, key Presidential advisors resign

8. Coming Apart
May 17, 1973
Senate starts holding public meetings on television

9. Coming Apart
July 7, 1973
President Nixon refused to testify for the committee
He also refuses to give Congress access to his Presidential files

10. The Smoking Gun
July 16, 1973
Senate Committee discovers through questioning the Presidents former advisors that there is a secret and illegal taping system installed in the White House
Investigators subpoenas the White House tapes and documents to investigate

11. The Impasse
July 25, 1973
President Nixon refused to comply with the subpoenas

12. The Saturday Night Massacre
October 1973
Nixon orders the Attorney General to fire the investigator who is putting subpoenas and legal pressure on the White House
The Attorney General refused to fire the investigator and instead he resigns himself
The replacement AG, fires special investigator Cox

13. Congress = Relentless November 1973 – April 1974
New Special Prosecutor is appointed
Finally the White House turns over the tapes under Supreme Court Ruling
Discovers that there are gaps in the tapes and suspects the White House destroyed evidence

14. Impeachment!
July 1974
House starts the process of impeaching the President of the United States
Impeachment
Bring charges against (convicted or not convicted)
If found guilty, the person is removed from office

15. Resignation August 9, 1974 September 8, 1974
President Nixon resigns from the Presidency
September 8, 1974
Nixon’s Vice President, Gerald Ford, now President, pardons Nixon of all crimes committed.