The burglary is one night. The constitutional file runs just over two years.
Dates below follow the public congressional, judicial and press record.
Timeline
- DNC break-in
Five men are arrested in the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.
- Post and prosecutors
Woodward, Bernstein and federal prosecutors tie burglars to CRP cash and White House operatives Hunt and Liddy.
- McCord's letter
James McCord tells Judge Sirica that pressure to remain silent came from the White House, cracking the burglars' silence.
- Dean and Butterfield
John Dean testifies to the Senate. Alexander Butterfield reveals the Oval Office taping system.
- Saturday Night Massacre
Nixon fires Archibald Cox. Richardson and Ruckelshaus resign. Bork executes the order. A new special prosecutor follows.
- United States v. Nixon
The Supreme Court rules that the president must surrender tapes. Executive privilege does not bar a criminal subpoena.
- Impeachment articles
The House Judiciary Committee approves articles including obstruction of justice. Bipartisan support makes Senate removal likely.
- Nixon resigns
After the smoking-gun tape of 23 June 1972 becomes public, Nixon leaves office. Gerald Ford is sworn in.
- Ford pardon
Ford grants Nixon a full federal pardon. Debate over accountability begins immediately.
- Convictions and ethics law
Aides and burglars complete the dock. The Ethics in Government Act (1978) is the main statutory afterimage.
After 1974 the timeline is statute, memoir and a suffix that English never stopped using.
Public-record encyclopedia. Not legal advice. Not a how-to. Graphic detail is withheld. Wars belong in a separate atlas.