On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters (DNC) at the Watergate Complex in Washington DC. A highly publicized scandal ensued. It completely changed the nation’s political landscape and how the American people viewed the government.
It tarnished the careers of many politicians and put a dark stain on Richard Nixon’s presidency, forcing him to resign.
These facts about Watergate will shed light on what led to the event and the aftermath that ensued. There are also some fun and random historical facts about Watergate, like how it popularized a particular green desert in the 70s and was featured in one of the most iconic movies of all time.
57 Facts About Watergate
Let’s get into the most interesting facts about Watergate. Some of the information you find out about the Watergate scandal might surprise you.
1) The Watergate Scandal is Named After a Building
The Watergate scandal is named after the building where the burglary took place. It’s part of the Watergate Complex, an office-apartment-hotel complex comprising six buildings in Washington DC’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood.
2) Tape on a Door Led to the Burglars’ Getting Caught
To facilitate the break-in at the DNC headquarters, the tape was put over the door latches in the basement of the building and the stairwell of the Watergate complex. It was left by one of the burglars, James McCord.
3) The Security Guard at the Watergate Complex Foiled the Break-in
Watergate security guard, Frank Wills, was making his rounds on June 17th when he noticed the tape covering one of the door latch bolts. It was preventing the door from latching shut.
Thinking workers had placed it there earlier, he removed the tape and continued with his rounds. When he returned to the door later in his shift, he saw that the tape had re-appeared back on the same door.
This alarmed Wills enough to call the cops and alert them of a potential burglary in the building.
4) Frank Wills Was Hailed as a National Hero
Frank Wills, who was 24 years old during the Watergate scandal, was deemed a hero for his role in foiling the break-in. However, Wills struggled in the aftermath with his newfound celebrity status. He left his job as a private security guard at the Watergate building and struggled to find a steady job afterward.
5) It’s Unclear Exactly What the Burglars Were Looking For
What the burglars attempted to find or uncover during the Watergate break-in remains a mystery. Some say they were looking for evidence linking the DNC with Cuban fundraising. Some say they were targeting the chair of the DNC for financial secrets.
We don’t know the exact reason for the break-in and attempted bugging of the Watergate office and probably never will.
6) Five Burglars Broke Into the DNC Headquarters
Five men were arrested for the break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in Washington DC.
- James W. McCord was a former FBI and CIA agent. He was the security coordinator for the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP). He was fired from both of these positions the day after the burglary.
- Virgilio R. Gonzales was a refugee from Cuba. When he arrived in the US, he became active in the anti-Castro movement. He lived in Miami, Florida, where he was a locksmith.
- Frank A. Sturgis served in several branches of the United States military and worked as an undercover operative for the CIA. He was also involved in anti-Castro activities.
- Eugenio Rolando Martínez Careaga worked for the CIA. He was a Cuban exile who later went on to earn his US citizenship. He was a prominent member of the anti-Castro movement.
- Bernard L. Barker was a Miami, Florida realtor and a Central Intelligence Agency operative. He was also believed to have been involved in the Bay of Pigs incident in 1962.
7) The Five Burglars Were All Charged With the Same Crime
The five burglars of Watergate were charged with the same crime: attempted burglary and attempted interception of telephone and other communications.
8) Each of the Five Burglars Pleaded Guilty
Each of the five men charged with breaking into the DNC headquarters in Washington DC pled guilty.
9) The Five Men All Served Time in Prison
The five men involved in the Watergate break-in served time in prison for their role in the burglary. Their sentences ranged from 4 to 15 months.
10) The Watergate Building Had Been Successfully Broken Into Before
On May 28, 1972, the DNC headquarters were successfully broken into. The chief operative in the White House Special Investigations Unit, Gordon Liddy, orchestrated this plan. Nothing was taken, but the telephones of staffers were bugged.
11) The Burglars Were Often Referred to as “Cubans” in the Press
The five burglars were usually collectively called “Cubans” in the press. However, only three of them were Cuban exiles, one was a Cuban American, and one (James W. McCord) was from Oklahoma.
12) The Watergate Seven Referred to Two Different Groups of People
The Watergate Seven was used to refer to two different groups of people in the scandal. The first were the five burglaries, plus Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt.
The second use of Watergate Seven was used to reference President Nixon’s seven advisors and aides who were indicted by a grand jury concerning the affair. They were John Mitchell, H. R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, Charles Colson, Gordon C. Strachan, Robert Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson.
13) The “Saturday Night Massacre” Was Highly Controversial
The “Saturday Night Massacre” occurred on October 20, 1973. President Nixon instructed his Attorney General, Elliot Richardson, in an unprecedented show of executive power, to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. Richardson refused the order and resigned instead.
Nixon then ordered his Deputy Attorney General, William Ruckelshaus, to fire Cox. He also refused and resigned. Nixon then tasked the third-most-senior official at the Justice Department, Solicitor General Robert Bork, with the order. Bork carried out the order.
14) The Firing of Archibald Cox Was Very Damaging to Nixon
The “Saturday Night Massacre” was seen as one of the most controversial of the Watergate scandal facts. The President’s actions were very damaging to his reputation. Protests ensued, and the news coverage was harsh on Nixon.
The event marked a turning point in how the public viewed the scandal. Polls began to show that most Americans now favored a Nixon impeachment.
15) The Watergate Scandal Resulted in Many Charges
The Watergate scandal saw 69 government officials charged with crimes for their role in the affair. Of this number, 48 were found guilty.
16) Howard Hunt Served 33 Months in Jail
American intelligence officer and author Howard Hunt helped plot the Watergate break-in. He was charged and convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and wiretapping. He was sentenced to 33 months in jail.
17) Gordon Liddy Served 4.5 Years in Jail
Gordon Liddy was the chief operative in the White House Special Investigations Unit under President Nixon. He was convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping for his role in the Watergate saga. He was given a hefty prison sentence of four and a half years in jail.
18) John Mitchell Served 19 Months in Jail
John Mitchell was the 67th Attorney General serving under President Nixon and the chairman of his presidential campaigns. He was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury and served 19 months in jail.
19) Watergate Heavily Tarnished Public Opinion of Legal Professions
With the Watergate scandal resulting in so many serious convictions, the public view of government, especially the legal profession, was heavily tarnished. This was especially true in Washington DC, where the scandal took place.
20) Nixon Probably Didn’t Even Know About the Break-in
Richard Nixon himself never ordered the Watergate complex to be broken into. Nixon’s Attorney General and the chair of the Committee to Re-elect the President, John Mitchell, devised the planned break-in. This is one of the lesser known Watergate facts.
21) Despite the Controversy of Watergate, Nixon Won Re-election
Nixon heavily denied his administration’s involvement in the Watergate scandal. The public believed him — at first. He won re-election in 1972, beating the Democratic candidate, George McGovern. Nixon won re-election by one of the biggest margins in US history.
22) Two Washington Reporters Helped Take Down Nixon
When the Watergate affair began, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were two young reporters working for the Washington Post. They broke some of the most critical stories in the scandal to the public.
The men worked with a secret informant, known as “Deep Throat,” who had inside information on the matter. Woodward, Bernstein, and “Deep Throat” played a pivotal role in unraveling the scandal.
23) Bernstein and Woodward Weren’t the First to Break the Case
Although Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are the two journalists given the most credit for relaying the news of Watergate to the American public, they weren’t the first to break the case.
Police reporter Alfred Lewis filed the first Washington Post Watergate report on June 18, 1972. The first Bernstein and Woodward article came out on June 19, 1972.
24) Woodward and Bernstein Turned Into Celebrities
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein became celebrities for their role in informing the American public about the Watergate scandal.
The duo’s fame was catapulted in 1974 when they wrote the best-selling book “All the President’s Men.” This nonfiction novel was made into a movie two years later.
25) The White House Was Not a Fan of Woodward and Bernstein
It might go without saying that the White House was not a fan of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. The White House attempted to frame their reporting as an obsession of the liberal newspaper seeking a vendetta against the President.
American newspapers that aligned themselves with Nixon scarcely mentioned Watergate at all.
26) Other Newspapers Played Important Roles in Reporting Watergate
Besides the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Newsday kept the public regularly informed about the scandal.
27) Deep Throat’s True Identity Was Revealed in 2005
Deep Throat was the pseudonym of a secret informant who supplied Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein with information about the scandal in 1972.
Deep Throat leaked vital details about Nixon’s involvement. This information helped bring to light the misconduct of the Nixon administration to the American public.
In 2005, Woodward and Bernstein both stated that former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt was Deep Throat.
28) The “Third-Rate Burglary” Comment is From the Scandal
Some iconic quotes came out of the Watergate scandal. Among them was a statement made by President Richard Nixon’s press secretary Ron Zeigler. At a press conference, he told a reporter he wouldn’t comment on a “third-rate burglary.”
He also commented against reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, accusing them of “shabby journalism” and “character assassination.”
29) Nixon Was Involved in the Attempted Cover-up of the Scandal
Although Nixon never ordered the break-in at Watergate, he was involved in the cover-up. Just days after the scandal took place, he ordered hundreds of thousands of dollars to be sent to the burglars in “hush money.”
Nixon and his aides also devised a plan to instruct the CIA to hinder the FBI’s investigation of the crime. This was a clear abuse of presidential power and an intentional obstruction of justice. It was considered more of a serious crime than the burglary itself.
30) Nixon’s Own Paranoia Lead to His Political Demise
There was a serious lack of evidence linking the President directly to the Watergate break-in, and many other people in Nixon’s circle were already taking the fall for the scandal. He probably would not have faced any consequences for his role if it wasn’t for his own paranoia.
Nixon was over-suspicious in office; he constantly thought his rivals were spying on him. He began bugging his own office.
31) The Tape That Sunk Nixon Was Known as the “Smoking Gun” Tape
Known as the “Smoking Gun” tape, Nixon had recorded himself talking with White House Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. The men were heard formulating a plan to interfere with the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate break-in. This tape ultimately showed that Nixon was involved in a Watergate coverup.
32) The Watergate Hearings Were Broadcast on TV
The Watergate Hearings began in May of 1973. They were nationally televised.
33) During the Hearings, It Was Revealed Nixon Recorded Himself
During the Watergate hearings, it was revealed that Nixon had secretly recorded all of his conversations in the White House. Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenaed Nixon for the tapes.
After months of delay, Nixon finally agreed to provide summaries of the recordings. Cox rejected the outlines, and Nixon subsequently fired him.
34) Nixon’s Deputy Assistant Disclosed the Taping System
President Nixon’s Deputy Assistant, Alexander Butterfield, publicly disclosed the White House’s secret taping system.
35) The Supreme Court Ordered Nixon to Hand Over the Tapes
After months of refusal, Nixon was subpoenaed by the Supreme Court to turn over 42 tapes of recorded White House conversations.
36) There Was a Mysterious 18.5 Minute Gap in One of the Tapes
In one of the 1972 secret recordings of a conversation between Nixon and H.R. Haldeman, it was discovered that one of the tapes had an 18.5-minute gap. When questions arose about the missing audio, Nixon’s secretary, Rose Mary Woods, testified that she had mistakenly erased a portion of the recording while taking another phone call.
37) Experts Cast Doubt on Woods’ Testimony
Experts cast serious doubt on whether it would be possible for Rose Mary Woods to have been able to record over the tape, given the technology she had at her disposal at the time.
38) Nixon Was Almost Impeached Over the Watergate Scandal
In 1974 the House Judiciary Committee recommended that three Articles of Impeachment be brought to the House of Representatives against President Nixon.
The first impeachable offense stated that the President had obstructed justice by attempting to hinder the Watergate investigation. The second article stated that the President abused his power by using federal agencies to attack his political enemies and private citizens. The third stated that the President refused to cooperate with the committee’s official investigation.
39) President Nixon Resigned From Office Because of the Scandal
Nixon resigned with impeachment proceedings heavily underway for his involvement in the Watergate affair. He held a televised address to the nation on August 8, 1974, stating his intention to become the first US President to resign. The next day, August 9, Nixon submitted a resignation letter to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
40) Nixon Flashed His Signature V-sign Salute When Leaving Office
Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon left the White House for the last time on August 9, 1974. Before Nixon boarded the Marine One helicopter, he turned around and flashed his famous V-sign salute.
41) Nixon Was Almost Charged After He Resigned
The Justice Department seriously considered bringing forth charges against Nixon after resigning. Memos show that the department struggled with Article I, Section 3, Clause 7 of the Constitution, which states that a person removed from office by impeachment and conviction can still be liable for punishment.
However, Nixon was pardoned about a month later, which ended the debate.
42) Nixon’s Vice President Succeeded Him in Office
Just minutes after Nixon’s resignation, the Vice President serving under him, Gerald Ford, was sworn into office. He became the 38th President of the United States.
43) Gerald Ford Took Office Because of the 25th Amendment
When Gerald Ford took office, he became the first Vice President to assume office under the terms of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
44) Ford Pardoned Nixon For His Role in Watergate
On September 8, 1974, US President Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon. It granted him full and unconditional pardoning for any crimes that Nixon might have committed while serving as President.
45) Gerald Ford Did Not Win Reelection
Gerald Ford served as US President from 1974 to 1977. He did not win re-election, partly because of his unpopular pardon of Nixon.
46) Only One Other Person Was Pardoned in the Scandal
Besides Richard Nixon, only one person was pardoned for their role in the Watergate Scandal. One of the five burglarers, Eugenio Rolando Martínez Careaga, was pardoned by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 for his role in the Watergate scandal.
47) Nixon Did a High-Profile Interview About the Scandal
In 1977, Nixon agreed to participate in a series of television interviews. British broadcaster David Frost conducted them. Nixon and his staff believed the interview would allow him to restore his reputation with the public.
48) Nixon Made an Infamous Comment on the Presidency
Nixon famously defended his role in the Watergate scandal during the Frost interviews. One of the most memorable lines of the discussion was when Nixon famously said to Frost, “when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.”
49) The First Nixon Interview Set a Record
The first episode of the series drew 45 million viewers. This was the largest TV audience for a political interview in history, and this record still stands today.
50) The Interviews Didn’t Really Help His Reputation
A Gallup poll was conducted after the interviews to gauge public opinion of Nixon. It showed that 69% of the public believed Nixon was still attempting to cover up his role in the scandal. 72% still believed Nixon was guilty of obstruction of justice, and 75% thought he deserved no future role in politics.
51) Nixon Retired With His Wife in California
After Nixon resigned from the presidency, he retired with his wife to their estate in California. He wrote several books, including a memoir.
52) Nixon Proclaimed His Innocence Until His Death
Nixon asserted his innocence up until he died in 1994. He said he only regretted not acting more “decisively” in dealing with the matter.
53) The Scandal Resulted in a New Cake Recipe
The Watergate Cake is just another bizarre thing to come out of the scandal. No one knows exactly who created the cake, but some say its name might be because it’s full of nuts and covered up with icing.
The recipe consists of boxed white cake mix, pistachio pudding, lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage (like 7UP), coconut, and chopped pecans.
54) There’s Also a Dessert Known as Watergate Salad
There’s also a side dish dessert salad known as Watergate Salad. It consists of pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, crushed pecans, whipped cream, and marshmallows.
The origin of the sweet salad isn’t known either, but it’s rumored that a sous-chef at the Watergate Hotel concocted the recipe. The dish became popular during the mid-1970s, immediately after the scandal, and when instant gelatin had just been invented.
It has also been called “Pistachio Delight” and “Shut the Gate” salad.
55) Watergate Led to Scandals Having “Gate” Attached to Them
Watergate set a precedent for scandals having “gate” attached to them. People began to take any scandal, no matter how small, and add on “gate” to the end.
When Janet Jackson had a wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl halftime show, it was known as Nipplegate. When Ariana Grande got caught licking donuts, it was known as Donutgate. And the list goes on.
56) Watergate Has Been the Subject of Many Movies
One of the first and most famous movies about Watergate was “All the President’s Men,” premiered in 1976. It starred Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, who played Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.
In 2008, the movie Frost/Nixon was made. This historical drama was nominated for five Oscars. The film focused on the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, especially the interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon.
57) The Watergate Scandal Is Featured in Forrest Gump
The Watergate scandal is brought up in the 1994 film “Forrest Gump.” In the movie, Forrest meets President Nixon, who offers to put him in the Watergate hotel. Forrest takes the offer.
While staying there, he’s woken up in the middle of the night by men shining flashlights around the building across from his room. He mistakes it for a power outage and calls Watergate security guard Frank Wills.
This informs Wills about the break-in, inadvertently kicking off the Watergate scandal. The next scene shows Nixon addressing the American people when he resigns from office.
How many of these Watergate break in facts did you know? Any facts about the Watergate scandal we missed?
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Amanda O’Brien is the owner of the New Interesting Facts website. She attended Monash University in Melbourne, where she attained two degrees with first class honours. She lives in London and runs four websites (including this one) and loves to geek out on facts of all types.
