Watergate Scandal

Headlines announcing Nixon’s resignation following the Watergate scandal (The Morning News, via Newspapers.com)

The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States during the early 1970s, following a break-in by five men at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972, and President Richard Nixon’s administration’s subsequent attempt to cover up its involvement.

The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by members of the Nixon administration, an impeachment process against the president that led to articles of impeachment, and Nixon’s resignation. Wikipedia

Learn more about the Watergate Scandal through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Watergate Scandal

5 are arrested for breaking into the office of the Democratic National Committee in Watergate Hotel Sun, Jun 18, 1972 – 14 · The Austin American (Austin, Travis, Texas, United States of America) · Newspapers.comUpdates and overview of the "Watergate caper" in August 1972, two months after the break in Thu, Aug 24, 1972 – Page 34 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPresident Nixon again rejects Democrats' request for a special prosecutor to look into Watergate Wed, Aug 30, 1972 – 5 · The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.comFederal grand jury indicts 7 men on charges of breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters Sat, Sep 16, 1972 – Page 6 · The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.comSummary of men allegedly linked by federal investigators to Watergate "spy-sabotage campaign" Sun, Oct 29, 1972 – Page 5 · The Journal News (White Plains, West Chester, New York, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"Watergate Case Reviewed: the Allegations and Denials," October 1972 Mon, Oct 30, 1972 – 18 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNixon wins a landslide reelection victory after Watergate break in Wed, Nov 8, 1972 – 1 · Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa, United States of America) · Newspapers.comArticle about the distinction between espionage activities of past campaigns and those of Watergate Sat, Nov 11, 1972 – 5 · Albany Democrat-Herald (Albany, Linn, Oregon, United States of America) · Newspapers.comG. Gordon Liddy and James McCord are convicted of burglarizing and wiretapping in Watergate case Wed, Jan 31, 1973 – 3 · The Journal Times (Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"Senate Creates Special Committee for Watergate Probe," February 1973 Thu, Feb 8, 1973 – Page 16 · The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNixon asks for resignation of two top aides and the attorney general; Fires the White House counsel Tue, May 1, 1973 – Page 9 · The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Summit, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comWatergate "Probe costs, now $1.25 million, appear certain to set a record" in June 1973 Sun, Jun 3, 1973 – Page 24 · Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States of America) · Newspapers.comText of President Richard Nixon's August 16, 1973, speech about Watergate scandal Thu, Aug 16, 1973 – 4 · The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States of America) · Newspapers.comGallup poll in August 1973 shows public opinions about Nixon and the Watergate scandal Sun, Aug 19, 1973 – Page 21 · The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.comRichard Nixon fires special prosecutor Archibald Cox and others in "Saturday Night Massacre" Sun, Oct 21, 1973 – Page 1 · Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, Jackson, Illinois, United States of America) · Newspapers.comGrand jury indicts the "Watergate Seven" for conspiring to hinder the Watergate investigation Sat, Mar 2, 1974 – Page 2 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"Text of Nixon's statement on release of Watergate transcripts" Tue, Apr 30, 1974 – 8 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America) · Newspapers.comOp-ed: "Electorate also has a role" in the fate of President Richard Nixon Fri, Jul 12, 1974 – Page 8 · Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPresident Richard Nixon resigns in August 1974 after Watergate scandal Fri, Aug 9, 1974 – Page 1 · Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States of America) · Newspapers.comMichigan newspaper's editorial following resignation of President Richard Nixon Fri, Aug 9, 1974 – Page 12 · The Holland Evening Sentinel (Holland, Ottawa, Michigan) · Newspapers.comTimeline of key dates in Watergate investigation, 1971-1974 Fri, Aug 9, 1974 – 4 · The Dispatch (Moline, Illinois, United States of America) · Newspapers.comHouse of Representatives accepts Judiciary Committee report on impeachment Tue, Aug 20, 1974 – 2 · The Independent-Record (Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPresident Gerald Ford grants pardon to former president Richard Nixon for criminal conduct Mon, Sep 9, 1974 – Page 1 · The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Orange, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPoll shows opinions of Americans in the months after Richard Nixon's resignation and pardon Fri, Oct 11, 1974 – 43 · The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America) · Newspapers.com1992 Watergate retrospective: "The Burglary and Cover-up that Forced a President from Office" Sun, Jun 14, 1992 – Page 151 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America) · Newspapers.com