Watergate: the break-in, the cover-up and a president's resignation

During the night of June 17, 1972, five burglars entered the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C.

The White House taping system recorded a June 23, 1972 conversation that became known as the "smoking gun". The Supreme Court's July 24, 1974 decision allowed the Special Prosecutor access to all the subpoenaed tapes, including this one.

The Senate voted unanimously to create a select committee to investigate the 1972 campaign and the Watergate break-in. Its hearings were broadcast live in May 1973.

In public testimony before the Senate Select Committee on July 16, 1973, former White House aide Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of the White House taping system, a voice-activated system. He had first disclosed it to committee staff privately on July 13.

A federal grand jury indicted seven White House aides for perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the Watergate cover-up.

The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities submitted its final report with legislative recommendations.

In an 8-0 decision (Justice Rehnquist took no part), the Supreme Court held that the President's generalized assertion of executive privilege must yield to the demonstrated, specific need for evidence in a pending criminal trial, and affirmed the order to produce the subpoenaed tapes.

The House Judiciary Committee recommended an article of impeachment for obstruction of justice, followed by articles for abuse of power (July 29) and contempt of Congress (July 30).

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Nixon administration released the tapes themselves, days after the Judiciary Committee approved the impeachment articles.

Under threat of impeachment, President Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, submitting a one-sentence letter: "I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States."