What was the reasoning behind the Watergate scandal?

Question

Why did Nixon go thru all that trouble, while the only thing he got was a resignation. Was it so that he can become re-elected?? Was that the motivation with all the wire-tapping? Any kind of help would b very much appreciated!!

Answer 1

Nixon was trying to keep track of his political rivals, and foreign spies, using illegal wire taps. It was in response to his activities that Congress amended Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control Act and passed FISA, to set specific rules for electronic surveillance.

Interestingly, Bush Sr. along with Rumsfeld and Cheney (yep, same crew) were lobbying Congress back in the mid 1970s to include specific executive exceptions allowing the president to bypass FISA in times of national security. Congress rejected those arguments.

Nixon resigned to escape impeachment.

Answer 2

The break-in at the Watergate Hotel (hence "Watergate scandel) was to steal Democratic party secrets, to ensure that Nixon would win the election.

You are correct, the re-election was virtually assured. Nixon was WAY ahead in the polls, but wait, there's more.

First, it is really questionable whether or not Nixon knew/authorized the initial break in. Instead, he learned about it shortly thereafter, and participated in the "cover-up" of the crime.

Second, and this is my favorite part ... a piece of trivia to really impress your teacher -- G. Gordon Liddy (now a prominant conservative talk show host) was in charge of the break in, under orders by Nixon's re-election committee. That committee was officially known as the "Committee to Re-Elect the President" with the acronym "CREEP"

Answer 3

They broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate building trying to get competitive information that they thought would help them in the election. Do you mean wire-tapping or Nixon's recordings of his Oval Office conversations? That's what did him in.