Watergate in 10 Points: A brief guide to the scandal that shook the world

The Watergate scandal is a labyrinth of political espionage that led to the downfall of a president. It's a tale of power, paranoia, and a break-in that broke the trust of a nation.

It all began with a bungled burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex, a crime that cracked open a Pandora's box of covert operations.

President Nixon's administration, already steeped in the Vietnam War's controversy, spiraled as the scandal exposed a series of dirty tricks and illegal wiretaps. It was a presidency under siege.

The scandal's name, "Watergate," became synonymous with political corruption, transforming the way we talk about government scandals. It's the original "-gate," a suffix that changed the lexicon.

Two Washington Post journalists, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, became the scandal's relentless narrators, unraveling the threads of deception with the guidance of a mysterious source, Deep Throat.

The discovery of secret recordings in the Oval Office, Nixon's own voice detailing the cover-up, was the smoking gun that turned whispers of impeachment into roars.

Watergate wasn't just about the break-in; it was about the lengths to which Nixon's administration went to conceal it. The cover-up was a web of lies that ultimately ensnared the president himself.

The scandal led to sweeping reforms, including the War Powers Act and the Freedom of Information Act, reshaping the balance of power and transparency in American politics.

Nixon's resignation, a first in U.S. history, was a somber finale to a political drama that shook the nation. It was a moment that signaled both failure and the resilience of American democracy.

Watergate remains a cautionary tale of unchecked power and the importance of a free press. It's a chapter in history that reminds us that even the highest office in the land is not above the law.