Watergate scandal facts for kids
The Watergate scandal was a big political event that happened during and after the 1972 United States Presidential Election. It involved the President at the time, Richard Nixon, and his team.
In 1972, President Nixon, a Republican, was running for re-election. He was running against George McGovern from the Democratic Party. Months before the election, a security guard named Frank Wills found something strange. He discovered that some former agents from the FBI and CIA had secretly broken into the Democratic Party offices. These offices were located in the Watergate hotel complex in Washington, D.C..
The people who broke in were listening to phone calls and stealing secret papers. When these men were caught, it became clear that President Nixon was involved. He had helped to hide what they did, and some even thought he might have hired them. A newspaper called The Washington Post played a very important role in telling everyone what was happening. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein wrote many articles about the scandal. This made the public realize that President Nixon could not be trusted. People started to see him in a different way.
Why President Nixon Resigned
President Nixon decided to leave his job on August 9, 1974. He did this because he did not want to be impeached. Impeachment is when the U.S. Congress officially charges a president with serious crimes. If a president resigns, Congress cannot impeach them.
After Nixon left office, his vice-president, Gerald Ford, automatically became the new President. Later, President Ford officially forgave Nixon for any crimes he might have committed during the scandal. This act is called a pardon. The name "Watergate" comes from the hotel where the break-in happened. Today, the word "Watergate" is often used to describe other big political scandals.
Images for kids
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Walkie-talkie used in Watergate break-in
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Garage in Rosslyn where Woodward and Felt met. Also visible is the historical marker erected by the county to note its significance.
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Minority counsel Fred Thompson, ranking member Howard Baker, and chair Sam Ervin of the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973
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President Nixon explaining release of edited transcripts, April 29, 1974
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House Judiciary Committee members and staff, 1974
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Nixon's resignation letter, August 9, 1974. Pursuant to federal law, the letter was addressed to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. When Kissinger initialed the letter at 11:35 a.m., Ford officially became president.
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Oliver F. Atkins' photo of Nixon leaving the White House on Marine One shortly before his resignation became effective, August 9, 1974
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Pen used by President Gerald R. Ford to pardon Richard Nixon on September 8, 1974
See also
In Spanish: Escándalo Watergate para niños
