In 1972, five men broke into offices of the democratic party in washington, d. c. members of the media and congress connected the burglary to members of president nixon's reelection campaign. nixon and his staff denied the accusations and committed illegal acts to hide the truth. as the house of representatives debated impeaching nixon, he resigned in disgrace rather than face a vote of impeachment. this episode will forever be known as the watergate scandal; named after the office building that was burglarized.