Watergate Scandal Watergate was the worst thing that could have ever happened to the Republicans in 1972. It was the beginning of the end for many high ranking jobs, including the commander and chief of the United States. The Republicans were not bad off in the year 1972. Nixon had been elected President of the U.S. for the second straight term and the Republicans were gaining some ground. That all changed, however, on June 17, 1972 when 5 men decided to break into the Watergate Hotel and steal files and documents in the chairmen of the Democratic National Committee's office. Lawrence O'Brien was the chairman. They put bugging devices