What were the events that led to the Watergate crisis and how did President Nixon's involvement in the case gradually emerge?

Answer 1

Money that was paid to the "plumbers"apprehended at the Watergate was traced to a slush fund linked to the Committee to RE Elect the President (CREEP).

Subsequent investigations, spurred by ongoing coverage in the Washington Post, led to high ranking officials in the Nixon administration.

Finally the revelation of the White House system for taping conversations uncovered the "smoking gun" a tape which proved that the President himself had knowledge of the cover-up.

Nixon's only option, to avoid impeachment, was to resign the Presidency.