Watergate

[ waw-ter-geyt, wot-er- ]

noun

1. a White House political scandal that came to light during the 1972 presidential campaign, growing out of a break-in at the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate apartment-office complex in Washington, D.C., and, after congressional hearings, culminating in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974.
2. any scandal involving abuses of power, corruption, or the like, and attempts to cover them up.

Watergate

/ ˈwɔːtəˌɡeɪt /

noun

1. an incident during the 1972 US presidential campaign, when a group of agents employed by the re-election organization of President Richard Nixon were caught breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate building, Washington, DC. The consequent political scandal was exacerbated by attempts to conceal the fact that senior White House officials had approved the burglary, and eventually forced the resignation of President Nixon
2. See -gate
   any similar public scandal, esp involving politicians or a possible cover-up See also -gate

Watergate

1. An incident in the presidency of Richard Nixon that led to his resignation. In June 1972, burglars in the pay of Nixon's campaign committee broke into offices of the Democratic party . In a complex chain of events, high officials on Nixon's staff who had been connected to the burglary used illegal means to keep the burglary from being fully investigated; these actions by Nixon's staff were known as the “cover-up.” Nixon arranged for secret tape-recording of many conversations in his office regarding the cover-up and then refused to hand the tapes over to investigators from Congress . After months of legal maneuvers, Nixon finally released the tapes, which showed that he had known about criminal activity by his staff. By this time, the House of Representatives was one step away from impeachment of Nixon. Leaders of Congress told him that if he were impeached and tried, he would very likely be removed from office. He resigned the presidency in August 1974, complaining of a lack of support from Congress. Several of his assistants were convicted of various crimes connected with Watergate. Nixon himself was never indicted and was pardoned by his successor, President Gerald Ford .

Notes

Many people became more scornful of government after the Watergate incident. Others were encouraged that the investigation and convictions were finally carried out.

Other Words From

• post-Water·gate adjective

Example Sentences

But from there we had Watergate, stagflation, oil embargos, eroding American power in the world, growing income inequality, etc.

From The Daily Beast

Some of them try to twist Watergate and write a story of bogus revisionism.

From The Daily Beast

In the book, you stay pretty much within the confines of Watergate, right?

From The Daily Beast

I first discovered nobody had ever cataloged all of the Watergate conversations.

From The Daily Beast

There are those who write about it without Watergate, and there are those who write about it with Watergate.

From The Daily Beast

The mayor closing the watergate caused much vexation to the lawyers rowing by boat to Westminster, and the king had to interfere.

From Project Gutenberg

The watergate was open, and a wild rush of men, women, and children took place down to the boats.

From Project Gutenberg

On an outlying work commanding the watergate eight thirty-two pounders were mounted.

From Project Gutenberg

Sandwich ends at the Barbican, the foreign-looking watergate that spans the road on the hither side of the Stour.

From Project Gutenberg

This was found in Watergate street about a century ago, together with a tessellated pavement.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• annul
• clamp down on
• crack down on
• invalidate
• overrule
• repeal
• rescind
• reverse
• revoke
• set aside
• squelch
• undo
• vacate
• veto
• void