The Plumbers

The Plumbers were a secret team formed in 1971 during Richard Nixon's presidency, tasked with stopping leaks of sensitive information to the press, particularly related to the Vietnam War and the Pentagon Papers. Their methods included surveillance and illegal activities, which led to major scandals. They became notorious for their involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in 1972. The ensuing investigations revealed a broader pattern of corruption and illegality, ultimately contributing to Nixon’s resignation in 1974 and highlighting significant issues regarding abuse of power in government.