Vance Says Deep State Behind Watergate: Did The Scandal Bring Down Nixon Or Was There More At Play?

Last Updated:June 26, 2026, 16:11 IST

JD Vance claims Watergate would last only 12 hours in todays news, reviving debate on the scandal that forced Richard Nixon to resign and spawned enduring conspiracy theories

The infamous Watergate scandal, which led to the downfall of US President Richard Nixon and ultimately his resignation, returned to public attention after US Vice President JD Vance remarked that the scandal would likely last only “12 hours" in today’s news cycle.

Vance argued that the idea of the Watergate scandal bringing down a presidency now seemed “crazy", reigniting debate over one of the biggest political scandals in American history.

Facing almost certain impeachment and removal from office, Nixon resigned on 9 August 1974. He remains the only sitting US President in the country’s nearly 250-year history to resign from office.

What Was the Watergate Scandal?

The Watergate scandal began in June 1972, when five burglars linked to Nixon’s re-election campaign were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, DC.

Although the break-in itself was serious, it was the subsequent cover-up that ultimately destroyed Nixon’s presidency.

Investigative journalists, FBI investigators, congressional committees and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox gradually uncovered evidence that senior White House officials had attempted to obstruct the investigation.

Political pressure intensified during the “Saturday Night Massacre" in October 1973, when Nixon ordered the dismissal of Cox, prompting the resignations of senior Justice Department officials.

In July 1974, the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled in United States v. Nixon that the President had to surrender secret Oval Office tape recordings. The tapes revealed Nixon’s involvement in efforts to cover up the break-in.

Soon afterwards, senior Republican leaders informed Nixon that he no longer had enough support in Congress to survive impeachment. He resigned on 9 August 1974, handing over the presidency to Vice President Gerald Ford.

Conspiracy Theories Behind Nixon’s Downfall

While the historical consensus on Watergate is supported by extensive documentary evidence, including Nixon’s own recorded conversations, the scandal has also generated numerous conspiracy theories over the past five decades. Some originated from Nixon’s allies seeking alternative explanations, while others were advanced by authors and researchers who argued that aspects of the official narrative remained unresolved.

Here are some of the most well-known theories:

The CIA Frame-Up Theory

One of the longest-running theories claims that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deliberately engineered or allowed the Watergate break-in to expose the Nixon administration.

Supporters point out that several of the burglars, including James McCord and E. Howard Hunt, had previously worked for the CIA. They also note Nixon’s often strained relationship with the intelligence agency.

According to the theory, the burglars made unusually amateur mistakes—such as placing tape across door latches in a way that was easily noticed by a security guard—ensuring they would be caught and triggering an investigation that would eventually reach the White House.

However, no credible evidence has emerged to demonstrate that the CIA orchestrated a coordinated effort to remove Nixon from office.

The ‘Call Girl Ring’ Theory

An alternative explanation gained prominence after the publication of the 1991 book Silent Coup by Len Colodny and Robert Gettlin.

The authors argued that the real objective of the Watergate break-in was not political espionage but the retrieval of information connected to an alleged prostitution ring that they claimed operated from the DNC headquarters.

The book alleged that White House Counsel John Dean, rather than Nixon, was behind the operation because his then-fiancée, Maureen, was supposedly connected to the ring.

Dean strongly denied the allegations and successfully sued the authors and publishers for defamation. Despite the legal outcome, the theory continues to attract attention among some Watergate researchers.

The Search for ‘Castro Documents’

Another theory suggests that the burglars were searching for documents relating to Cuba rather than Democratic campaign strategy.

According to various versions of the theory, the Nixon administration believed the DNC possessed documents linking Nixon to earlier CIA assassination plots against Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Other versions claim the burglars were attempting to find evidence that Cuba was secretly supporting Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.

No documentary evidence has substantiated either claim.

The Mystery of the 18½-Minute Gap

One of Watergate’s enduring mysteries remains the unexplained 18½-minute erasure on a tape recording of a conversation between Nixon and Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman, recorded on 20 June 1972—just days after the break-in.

Nixon’s secretary, Rose Mary Woods, said she accidentally erased the recording while answering a telephone call. However, later technical examinations concluded that her explanation could not account for the entire erased segment.

Because the missing audio has never been recovered, numerous theories have emerged. Some speculate the recording contained discussions about the Watergate operation itself, while others suggest it referred to unrelated intelligence matters, including the CIA.

To this day, the contents of the erased portion remain unknown.

Historical Consensus

Although these theories continue to generate interest, historians broadly agree that they do not alter the central facts of the Watergate scandal.

The surviving White House tapes, court rulings, congressional investigations and documentary evidence established that Nixon participated in the cover-up following the break-in and used the powers of the presidency to obstruct the investigation.

Those actions—not the conspiracy theories surrounding the case—ultimately led to the collapse of his presidency and his resignation.

About the Author

Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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