Drake Scandal (PJW)

The Drake Scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States during the late 1960's and early 1970's following a break-in at the Democratic Nomination Convention offices at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, Illinois on September 28, 1968 and President Richard Nixon's administration's subsequent attempt to cover up its involvement. Investigations by Congress and the FBI with the backdrop of the 1970 Riots caused a constitutional crisis as the Nixon administration was forced to cover up its other illegal activities as well, including the illegal sale of arms to the dictatorial French regime and abuses of power by the Federal Bureau of Racial Affairs.

Following the arrest of five men during their break-in at the Drake Hotel, the FBI discovered a connection between cash found on the burglars and a slush fund used by the presidential organization Committee to Re-elect the President. The FBI's further investigations were hindered by Nixon's usage of the FBRA during the nation-wide martial law of 1970 to destroy evidence and disappear several former White House staff members. The FBI moved away from Nixon and investigated his cabinet members; Vice President Spiro Agnew's own corrupt dealings were discovered, forcing Agnew to resign.

Agnew's resignation resulted in the scandal becoming embroiled in partisan politics; with the FBI closing in on him, it seemed likely Nixon would resign to avoid impeachment. Democrats in the Senate began blocking his vice presidential nominations to secure the ascension of Democrat Speaker of the House Wilbur Mills to the presidency.

The smoking gun came in October 1971, when the FBI investigation led to Secretary of the Treasury Peter Willkie admitting the Nixon administration's involvement in the illegal arm sales to fund CREEP and the FBRA, along with maintaining a secret tape recording system in his White House offices. In a rare move, the Supreme Court ruled that the president was obliged to release these tapes to government investigators. The tapes revealed the validity of Willkie's claims along with proof of Nixon's ordering of a cover up. Nixon did in fact resign in December, and Mills became the new president.

Over a hundred staff members of the Nixon administration were indicted and nearly all were found guilty, including Secretary of Racial Affairs Robert DePugh. Before Nixon's court hearings were to begin, Nixon was assassinated outside his home by Arthur Bremer. Though Bremer admitted to working alone and seeking fame, numerous conspiracy theories have spawned concerning the reason behind the assassination.