The Watergate scandal, as a major scandal in American political history, was not only a turning point in Nixon's presidency, but also a touchstone for the power of American democracy and media surveillance. At the heart of the affair was the Nixon administration's attempt to intervene in its political opponents and subsequent cover-ups, which grossly violated laws and morals, undermined public trust in the government, and ultimately forced Nixon to become the first president in U.S. history to resign while in office.
The beginning and end of the event
On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for illegally breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Building in Washington, D.C. At first, the incident did not attract widespread attention, but as the investigation deepened, it became clear that it was not a simple theft, but an organized political espionage campaign linked to the Nixon campaign. The connection between the five included former security advisers to President Nixon, and the incident quickly escalated.
Nixon's attempt to cover up
Faced with growing skepticism, Nixon and his aides chose the wrong path – cover-up. They used their authority to obstruct justice, including directing the CIA to interfere with FBI investigations, pay hush money to arrested individuals, and destroy evidence. In particular, the existence of a tape of Nixon's secretly recorded White House conversations has become irrefutable evidence of his deep involvement in cover-ups.
The battle between the court and the Congress
With the relentless pursuit of Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, and the involvement of the courts and Congress, especially Special Counsel Archibald Cox and later Leon Jawowski, the Nixon administration's cover-up came to light. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Nixon must hand over the key tapes, which clearly showed Nixon's involvement in the cover-up.
The collapse of trust and resignation
The release of the tape completely shattered Nixon's long-standing position of ignorance, leading to a sharp decline in his support inside and outside Congress, and even calls for his resignation within the Republican Party. Faced with almost certain impeachment and removal, Nixon opted for an honorable exit, announcing his resignation on August 8, 1974. His resignation marks the end of an era and reflects the effectiveness of the checks and balances in the U.S. constitutional system.
The core reason: abuse of power and cover-up
The core cause of the Watergate scandal boiled down to the Nixon administration's abuse of power and a series of improper measures to maintain power after it was exposed. This series of actions undermined public trust in the government, violated democratic principles and the spirit of the rule of law, and ultimately led to a political earthquake. Watergate not only changed Nixon's personal fate, but also had a profound impact on American political culture, reinforcing the importance of media oversight and judicial independence, reminding all public officials that they must act within a legal and ethical framework.