The saga began with a break-in at Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., and ended in 1974 with the only presidential resignation in American history.  In between, the nation was engaged in a drama that raised issues about the rule of law in our democratic society. 

In the end, it was an 8-0 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that precipitated President Nixon's resignation.  In that ruling, the Court directed the president to release requested tape recordings to congressional committees and to Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworkski.  Gerald Ford was sworn in as America's thirty-eighth president and the nation was again reminded that no person - not even the President of the United States - is above the law.