The Watergate scandal was a watershed event for politics in America in the 1970s and was initially triggered by the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. At its core were three key issues:
Political Espionage: Plumbers involved in the case were arrested for their involvement in bugging operations and taking photographs of campaign paraphernalia in order to ensure President Nixon’s illegal re-election.
Abuse of Power: The investigation revealed a dirty tricks machinery and illegal surveillance/spying activities.
Resignation: This actually backfired on the Nixon administration, resulting in Nixon becoming the only president in the history of the United States who has resigned from office.