The Watergate scandal began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in June 1972.

The burglars were caught and found to have links to the re-election campaign of Republican President Richard Nixon.

The Nixon administration then engaged in a massive effort to cover up its involvement in the break-in.

Investigative journalism by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post helped to uncover the cover-up.

A special Senate committee held televised hearings that revealed the extent of the political espionage and cover-up.

A key revelation was the existence of a secret taping system in the White House, which had recorded Nixon's conversations.

Nixon refused to hand over the tapes, leading to a major constitutional crisis and the 'Saturday Night Massacre,' where he fired the special prosecutor investigating him.

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Nixon must release the tapes.

The 'smoking gun' tape revealed Nixon's direct involvement in the cover-up from the beginning.

Facing certain impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate, Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency on August 9, 1974, the only U.S. president to do so.