In as simple terms as possible, the Watergate scandal was an attempt by members of the Committee for the Re-Election of the President and other White House officials to gather information from the Democratic National Committee through illegal means. The conspirators enlisted a team of burglars headed by a former FBI agent named Alfred Baldwin to wiretap phones at the DNC's headquarters at the Watergate Complex.

The first infiltration was successful, but the team of burglars were caught after attempting to break in again for maintenance. While it is commonly accepted that President Nixon had no knowledge of the wiretapping before the break-in, he did attempt to stop the truth from being revealed. Nixon's famous quote, "I am not a crook" is a response to Watergate allegations that led to his impeachment. Investigative Journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are considered heroes of their trade for their role in linking the break-ins to upper levels of government.