Texas A&M University (TAMU) HIST106 History of the United States Exam 3 Practice

The correct answer is the Watergate Scandal, which was a major political scandal in the early 1970s. It involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters located in the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. This break-in occurred in June 1972 and was part of a broader campaign of political espionage organized by officials associated with President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign.

The significance of the Watergate Scandal lies not only in the initial crime of breaking and entering but also in the subsequent cover-up efforts, which were uncovered through investigations by journalists and congressional hearings. The scandal ultimately led to the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, marking a pivotal moment in American political history and public trust in government.

In contrast, the Iran-Contra Affair involved the secret sale of arms to Iran to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua during the 1980s. The Monica Lewinsky Scandal revolved around President Bill Clinton's extramarital affair with a White House intern and the subsequent impeachment proceedings over perjury and obstruction of justice. The Teapot Dome Scandal was a bribery scandal in the 1920s, involving the secret leasing of federal oil reserves by the Harding administration. Each of these events is significant