"It was a missing tape that proved President Nixon had prior knowledge of the Watergate Office breakin."
This previous answer is not correct.
The 'smoking gun' refers to a known tape of Nixon discussing paying Hunt/Liddy (2 of the people involved in watergate) money.
It is called The "Smoking Gun" tape because it shows that Nixon was willing to pay money to keep them quiet which is considered by many to be a strong indication that Nixon had a great deal of involvement within the scandal.
It does not directly show Nixon as being in an central role however it proves he had knowledge and involvement.
It is believed however that Nixon did not authorise the Watergate break in, however he did set up circumstances which could allow it to occur.
The missing tape is actually an 18.5 minute section which is missing from a complete tape, this was later claimed to be accidentally deleted while transcripting. It is not known what this tape contained, however it is widely believed to contain Nixon discussing how he intended to use the CIA/FBI to hush up the incident.
3 Days
It was a recording of a converaation in the White House between Nixon and his Chief of Staff, Bob Haldeman. By the time the tape was released, Haldeman had been sacked in the midst of the turmoil of Watergate. The tape showed that Nixon had been fully aware of the break-in at the Watergate Building and had been in charge of a cover-up, which contradicted what he had said in public. This was considered to be the conclusive evidence (or the "smoking gun") that President Nixon had lied to the investigators. He soon chose to resign, rather than be removed from office by Congress. The "smoking gun" reference comes from a Sherlock Holmes story, in which Holmes and Watson burst into a crime scene and find the murderer standing over the victim with a smoking gun - the evidence which proves the case beyond doubt.
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.
The revelation of the White House system for taping conversations uncovered a "smoking gun".One of the tapes proved that the President himself had knowledge of the cover-up and actively worked to keep it hidden.Nixon's only option, to avoid impeachment, was to resign the Presidency.
The revelation of the White House system for taping conversations uncovered a "smoking gun".One of the tapes confirmed that the President himself had knowledge of the cover-up and actively worked to keep it hidden.Nixon's only option, to avoid impeachment, was to resign the Presidency.
The revelation of the White House system for taping conversations uncovered a "smoking gun".One of the tapes confirmed that the President himself had knowledge of the cover-up and actively worked to keep it hidden.Nixon's only option, to avoid impeachment, was to resign the Presidency.
The revelation of the White House system for taping conversations uncovered a "smoking gun".One of the tapes confirmed that the President himself had knowledge of the cover-up and actively worked to keep it hidden.Nixon's only option, to avoid impeachment, was to resign the Presidency.
The Smoking Gun was created in 1997.
Money that was paid to the "plumbers" was traced to a slush fund linked to the Commitee to RE Elect the President (CREEP).Subsequent investigations, spurred by ongoing coverage in the Washington Post, to high ranking officials in the Nixon administration.Finally the revelation of the White House system for taping conversations led to 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.
Smoking Gun TV - 2005 was released on: USA: 16 August 2005
WD40
The smoking gun in WWI was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28th, 1914.