Watergate tapes

The Watergate tapes were recordings made by President Richard Nixon’s administration of conversations held in the Oval Office. They became crucial evidence during the Watergate scandal, which involved illegal activities and a cover-up related to the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972. When investigators sought access to these tapes to understand what Nixon knew and when, he initially refused, citing executive privilege. However, after legal battles and public pressure, Nixon released some tapes, which revealed misconduct and led to his resignation in 1974. The tapes are historic for their role in uncovering political corruption.