Changes

On June 17, 1972, five men (James W. McCord Jr, Frank Sturgis, Virgilio Gonzales, Bernard Barker, and Eugenio Martinez) were caught breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate complex in [[Washington, D.C.]]  The burglars included [[James W. McCord]], a former [[CIA]] employee, and several [[Cuba]]n expatriates with ties to the CIA.  The subsequent investigation of the break-in revealed that the intruders were acting on behalf of the [[Committee to Reelect the President]] (often called CRP, and sometimes pronounced and spelled, particularly by Nixon's detractors, as "CREEP").  They, along with accomplices [[E. Howard Hunt]] and [[G. Gordon Liddy]], were convicted of burglary and wiretapping in Jan. 1973.

On June 17, 1972, five men (James W. McCord Jr, Frank Sturgis, Virgilio Gonzales, Bernard Barker, and Eugenio Martinez) were caught breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate complex in [[Washington, D.C.]]  The burglars included [[James W. McCord]], a former [[CIA]] employee, and several [[Cuba]]n expatriates with ties to the CIA.  The subsequent investigation of the break-in revealed that the intruders were acting on behalf of the [[Committee to Reelect the President]] (often called CRP, and sometimes pronounced and spelled, particularly by Nixon's detractors, as "CREEP").  They, along with accomplices [[E. Howard Hunt]] and [[G. Gordon Liddy]], were convicted of burglary and wiretapping in Jan. 1973.

==From Burglary to Political Scandal==

==From burglary to political scandal==

Evidence that emerged at the burglary trial suggested that the break-in had the approval of higher-level government officials who were attempting to cover up their involvement.  This possibility was aggressively pursued by investigative reporters in the print [[media]], with [[Washington Post]] reporters [[Carl Bernstein]] and [[Bob Woodward]] playing particularly critical roles.  Woodward and Bernstein, as well as others, discovered evidence that the break-in was only part of a wider effort of political "dirty tricks" designed to discredit Democratic candidates.  They also uncovered the existence of a secret [[slush fund]] used to finance these activities.<ref>Bernstein, Carl and Woodward, Bob.  ''All The President's Men''</ref>

Evidence that emerged at the burglary trial suggested that the break-in had the approval of higher-level government officials who were attempting to cover up their involvement.  This possibility was aggressively pursued by investigative reporters in the print [[media]], with [[Washington Post]] reporters [[Carl Bernstein]] and [[Bob Woodward]] playing particularly critical roles.  Woodward and Bernstein, as well as others, discovered evidence that the break-in was only part of a wider effort of political "dirty tricks" designed to discredit Democratic candidates.  They also uncovered the existence of a secret [[slush fund]] used to finance these activities.<ref>Bernstein, Carl and Woodward, Bob.  ''All The President's Men''</ref>