The term "Watergate" generally refers to the June 17, 1972, break-in of the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The Watergate Special Prosecution Force subpoenaed conversations relating to the Watergate break-in and the administration cover-up to use in trials of Watergate conspirators.

The Watergate Trial tapes and the remaining conversations (which were not used in court) were accessioned into the National Archives as part of RG-460:   Records of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force.

Identification Collections  [See Also:  Abuse of Governmental Power Conversations]

The investigation into the Watergate break-in exposed a trail of abuses that led to the highest levels of the Nixon administration. These abuses are sometimes lumped under the term "Watergate." The abuses as investigated by the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities 1972 included:

1. Misuse of Government Agencies
   
   
2. Watergate Break-In
   
   
3. Watergate Cover-Up
   
   
4. Campaign Practices
   
   
5. Obstruction of Justice
   
   
6. Campaign Financing
   
   
7. Milk Fund Investigation
   
   
8. Hughes-Rebozo Investigation
   
   
9. Emoluments and Tax Evasion
   
   
10. International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) Investigation

President Nixon resigned from office under threat of impeachment on August 9, 1974.