From the Archives, 1972: Watergate revisited

On this day in 1972, Washington police apprehended five burglars at the office of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex. The break-in led to an investigation that revealed multiple abuses of power by President Richard M. Nixon. His attempt to have the CIA tell the FBI to lay off the investigation was the smoking gun that led to his decision to resign. Nixon knew that if he did not quit he would be impeached. He announced his resignation on August 8,1974.