Claim Two reporters alone brought down a president.
Timeline beat 17 Jun 1972 — DNC break-in
Woodward and Bernstein mattered. So did Sirica, Dean, the Senate, Cox, Jaworski and the Supreme Court.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Notoriety97
Mystery20
Scale75
Evidence88
Legal impact96
Culture94
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
What was Watergate?
A political scandal that began with a 17 June 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices in Washington's Watergate complex and became a White House cover-up. It ended with President Richard Nixon's resignation on 9 August 1974 and convictions of many aides and burglars.
Who was arrested on 17 June 1972?
Five men inside the DNC offices, including James McCord of CRP. They were tied to E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy. The burglary was a political intelligence operation, not a random theft. The scandal was the lying that followed.
What did the Washington Post do?
Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, with editor Ben Bradlee, kept publishing links between the burglars, CRP cash and the White House through 1972–73. An FBI source, later named as Mark Felt, helped. The paper did not act alone: courts and Congress built the public record.
What was the Saturday Night Massacre?
On 20 October 1973 Nixon ordered special prosecutor Archibald Cox fired for insisting on the White House tapes. Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy William Ruckelshaus resigned rather than comply. Solicitor General Robert Bork carried out the firing. The crisis forced a new prosecutor and deepened impeachment talk.
Why did Nixon resign?
After the Supreme Court ordered the tapes released in United States v. Nixon (24 July 1974), the 23 June 1972 'smoking gun' conversation showed him joining an effort to halt the FBI. The House Judiciary Committee had approved impeachment articles. Senate conviction looked certain. He resigned on 9 August 1974.
Did Nixon go to prison?
No. President Gerald Ford pardoned him on 8 September 1974 for federal crimes he 'committed or may have committed'. Many subordinates were convicted. That split is why this atlas marks the status mixed.
The burglary is one night. The constitutional file runs just over two years.
Dates below follow the public congressional, judicial and press record.
Timeline
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
- DNC break-in
Five men are arrested in the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.
- Post and prosecutors
Woodward, Bernstein and federal prosecutors tie burglars to CRP cash and White House operatives Hunt and Liddy.
- McCord's letter
James McCord tells Judge Sirica that pressure to remain silent came from the White House, cracking the burglars' silence.
- Dean and Butterfield
John Dean testifies to the Senate. Alexander Butterfield reveals the Oval Office taping system.
- Saturday Night Massacre
Nixon fires Archibald Cox. Richardson and Ruckelshaus resign. Bork executes the order. A new special prosecutor follows.
- United States v. Nixon
The Supreme Court rules that the president must surrender tapes. Executive privilege does not bar a criminal subpoena.
- Impeachment articles
The House Judiciary Committee approves articles including obstruction of justice. Bipartisan support makes Senate removal likely.
- Nixon resigns
After the smoking-gun tape of 23 June 1972 becomes public, Nixon leaves office. Gerald Ford is sworn in.
- Ford pardon
Ford grants Nixon a full federal pardon. Debate over accountability begins immediately.
- Convictions and ethics law
Aides and burglars complete the dock. The Ethics in Government Act (1978) is the main statutory afterimage.
Claim versus timeline
Each public-record claim on this dossier sits beside the timeline chapter already on the page.
Public-record encyclopedia. Not legal advice, not a how-to, not a private file.
Claim It was only a third-rate burglary.
Timeline beat 1972–73 — Post and prosecutors
That was the White House line in 1972. The tapes show a cover-up of political intelligence work tied to CRP.
Claim Nixon was convicted in criminal court.
Timeline beat Mar 1973 — McCord's letter
He resigned and was pardoned. Subordinates were convicted. Mixed is the correct status.
Claim Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction.
Timeline beat Jun 1973 — Dean and Butterfield
In 2005 the source was identified as W. Mark Felt. The garage myth was real enough; it was never the whole case.
Beat weight marks
Mark each timeline beat already on this dossier as supported, contested or unknown, using the public-record claims already filed here. Not a verdict.
Editorial marks on this device only. Public-record encyclopedia — not legal advice, not a how-to, not a private file.
| Timeline beat | Supported / Contested / Unknown |
|---|---|
| 17 Jun 1972 — DNC break-in Claim already on file: Two reporters alone brought down a president. | |
| 1972–73 — Post and prosecutors Claim already on file: It was only a third-rate burglary. | |
| Mar 1973 — McCord's letter Claim already on file: Nixon was convicted in criminal court. | |
| Jun 1973 — Dean and Butterfield Claim already on file: Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction. | |
| 20 Oct 1973 — Saturday Night Massacre Claim already on file: Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction. | |
| 24 Jul 1974 — United States v. Nixon Claim already on file: Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction. | |
| 27–30 Jul 1974 — Impeachment articles Claim already on file: Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction. | |
| 9 Aug 1974 — Nixon resigns Claim already on file: Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction. | |
| 8 Sep 1974 — Ford pardon Claim already on file: Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction. | |
| 1975–78 — Convictions and ethics law Claim already on file: Deep Throat was a composite or a fiction. |
After 1974 the timeline is statute, memoir and a suffix that English never stopped using.
Public-record encyclopedia. Not legal advice. Not a how-to. Graphic detail is withheld. Wars belong in a separate atlas.