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The '''Watergate Affair''' was a political scandal leading to President Richard M. Nixon's resignation. It began when members of the campaign to reelect [[Richard Nixon]] broke into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel during the 1972 presidential election. Nixon had no prior knowledge of the burglary plans, nor gave consent to the escapade, yet his loyalty to subordinates led to Nixon consenting to cover up activities and transferring money from the Presidential election campaign fund to pay for the legal defense of those who were involved.  Nixon resigned when it became clear he had lost support within his own party and Congress was likely to impeach him for obstruction of justice.  

The '''Watergate Affair''' was a political scandal leading to [[President of the United States|President]] [[Richard Nixon|Richard M. Nixon's]] resignation. It began when members of the campaign to reelect Richard Nixon broke into the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] National Committee Headquarters in the [[Watergate Hotel]] during the 1972 presidential election. Nixon had no prior knowledge of the burglary plans, nor gave consent to the escapade, yet his loyalty to subordinates led to Nixon consenting to cover up activities and transferring money from the Presidential election campaign fund to pay for the legal defense of those who were involved.  Nixon resigned when it became clear he had lost support within his own party and [[Congress]] was likely to [[impeach]] him for [[obstruction of justice.]]

The events that ended the Nixon presidency began on June 17, 1972, when five men, all employees of Nixon's reelection campaign, were caught breaking into rival Democratic headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, DC. The intruders and two other accomplices were convicted of burglary and wiretapping in Jan. 1973; but it soon became evident, from hints that emerged at the trial and other details revealed in a series of articles by the Washington Post, that the break-in had the approval of higher-level government officials who were attempting to cover up their involvement.

The events that ended the Nixon presidency began on June 17, 1972, when five men, all employees of Nixon's reelection campaign, were caught breaking into rival Democratic headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, DC. The intruders and two other accomplices were convicted of burglary and wiretapping in Jan. 1973; but it soon became evident, from hints that emerged at the trial and other details revealed in a series of articles by the Washington Post, that the break-in had the approval of higher-level government officials who were attempting to cover up their involvement.