On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. What seemed like a minor burglary unraveled into a major political scandal. Investigations linked the break-in to members of President Richard Nixon’s administration. The scandal led to congressional hearings, indictments, and public distrust. In 1974, Nixon resigned rather than face impeachment. Watergate reshaped expectations of government transparency and press oversight.
