On June 21, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. The burglars had been attempting to wiretap phones and steal documents related to the upcoming presidential election. The subsequent investigation uncovered a widespread cover-up by members of President Nixons administration, leading to the eventual resignation of Nixon. The scandal eroded public trust in government and had a lasting impact on U.S. political culture. The Watergate scandal remains one of the most significant political events in American history.