US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said that the Watergate scandal that brought down the Nixon administration would not survive more than 12 hours in today's news cycle. He compared US President Donald Trump with Richard Nixon, suggesting that both of them were targeted by the “deep state” apparatus. Vance was discussing his new book “Communion” at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California. He suggested that the legacy of Nixon was going through a period of renaissance.“If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy,” said Vance."If you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon, it's not all that different from what the same groups of people, the same institutions tried to do to Donald Trump in the first Trump administration."He went on and compared himself to Nixon. “Young senator, vice president, writes some bestselling books, is hated by the media,” he said. “It kind of sounds like JD Vance. I’ve always liked Richard Nixon.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-clash-over-mou-details-frozen-assets-iaea-hormuz-1782389118033">US-Iran battle over MoU clause: Delaying conflict or seeking more concessions?</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JD Vance: &quot;I think Nixon&#39;s historical legacy is enjoying a bit of a renaissance, and deservedly so. I joked that if Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12 hours news story. The idea that it took down a presidency is crazy.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/osy0V3QLyN">pic.twitter.com/osy0V3QLyN</a>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://x.com/atrupar/status/2070251368753852571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Richard Nixon, in his re-election campaign, wiretapped the Democratic headquarters, and the following US Senate hearings, which were televised nationally. The Watergate scandal and Nixon's resignation profoundly shattered public trust and permanently altered how Americans viewed their government. Along with the leaked Pentagon Papers in 1971, it proved that the highest levels of the US government would deliberately lie to the public to protect political interests.&nbsp;41-year-old Vance was not born during the investigation into Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal. Vance's ambition of being associated with Nixon invites the dark legacy of abuse of executive power and facing rebellion by his own Republican party, and the only US President to resign, Vance is probably ignoring the scandals and trying to replicate his landslide electoral victory.&nbsp;

JD Vance compared Donald Trump to Richard Nixon, claimed the "deep state" targeted both, and argued the Watergate scandal would last only 12 hours today.

US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said that the Watergate scandal that brought down the Nixon administration would not survive more than 12 hours in today's news cycle. He compared US President Donald Trump with Richard Nixon, suggesting that both of them were targeted by the “deep state” apparatus. Vance was discussing his new book “Communion” at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California. He suggested that the legacy of Nixon was going through a period of renaissance. “If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy,” said Vance."If you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon, it's not all that different from what the same groups of people, the same institutions tried to do to Donald Trump in the first Trump administration." He went on and compared himself to Nixon. “Young senator, vice president, writes some bestselling books, is hated by the media,” he said. “It kind of sounds like JD Vance. I’ve always liked Richard Nixon.” Also Read: US-Iran battle over MoU clause: Delaying conflict or seeking more concessions?

JD Vance compared Donald Trump to Richard Nixon, claimed the "deep state" targeted both, and argued the Watergate scandal would last only 12 hours today.

JD Vance compares Trump to Nixon, says Watergate would last just 12 hours today

US President Donald Trump has insisted he does not need congressional approval to continue the war with Iran. He said that previously, presidents never sought congressional approval, bypassed the War Powers Act, reinterpreting what constitutes "hostilities". As the critical 60-day deadline expired on Friday, Trump said that using the War Powers Act to restrict the President's power is largely "unconstitutional". Trump and his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth contend that the deadline clock paused when the current ceasefire came into effect.&nbsp;"So many presidents, as you know, have gone and exceeded it," said Trump, "It's never been used. It's never been adhered to." &nbsp;Regardless, some of Trump's recent predecessors sought to comply with war powers authority vested in Congress, whereas some found loopholes to bypass it. The War Powers Act was passed in 1973 to limit the ability of then-President Richard Nixon to wage war in Vietnam.&nbsp;<h2>US President who won authorisation</h2>US President George HW Bush famously sought congressional approval and got it in 1991 for the Gulf War. But he maintained that he did not need it. The 1991 Authorisation for Use of Military Force (AUMF) remain in record till 2023, when it was repealed by Congress. His son George W. Bush won approval for the wars he waged in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. In 1983, US President Ronald Regan won authorisation for the deployment of Marines to Lebanon, despite largely resisting the War Powers Resolutions throughout his term.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-banksy-statue-meaning-central-london-how-installed-1777698440620">Who is Banksy? How the artist secretly installed a statue in central London</a><h2>US President who avoided authorisation&nbsp;</h2>Bill Clinton in 1999 avoided authorisation and carried out a 78-day bombing campaign in Kosovo, suggesting that the law was broadly unconstitutional. Similarly, in 2011, Barack Obama intervened in Libya, without any authorisation from Congress, arguing that it was a joint NATO operation and no US ground troops were deployed. While Joe Biden did not start a war and moved away from Afghanistan, he went on to carry out strikes in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, supported war efforts in Israel and Ukraine, which were smaller in scale, bending the necessity of the War Powers Resolution.&nbsp;

Trump’s Iran stance revives a long history of US presidents bypassing Congress under the War Powers Act. Here’s how leaders from Nixon to Biden navigated it.

US President Donald Trump has insisted he does not need congressional approval to continue the war with Iran. He said that previously, presidents never sought congressional approval, bypassed the War Powers Act, reinterpreting what constitutes "hostilities". As the critical 60-day deadline expired on Friday, Trump said that using the War Powers Act to restrict the President's power is largely "unconstitutional". Trump and his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth contend that the deadline clock paused when the current ceasefire came into effect. "So many presidents, as you know, have gone and exceeded it," said Trump, "It's never been used. It's never been adhered to." Regardless, some of Trump's recent predecessors sought to comply with war powers authority vested in Congress, whereas some found loopholes to bypass it. The War Powers Act was passed in 1973 to limit the ability of then-President Richard Nixon to wage war in Vietnam. US President who won authorisation US President George HW Bush famously sought congressional approval and got it in 1991 for the Gulf War. But he maintained that he did not need it. The 1991 Authorisation for Use of Military Force (AUMF) remain in record till 2023, when it was repealed by Congress. His son George W. Bush won approval for the wars he waged in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. In 1983, US President Ronald Regan won authorisation for the deployment of Marines to Lebanon, despite largely resisting the War Powers Resolutions throughout his term. Also Read: Who is Banksy? How the artist secretly installed a statue in central London US President who avoided authorisation Bill Clinton in 1999 avoided authorisation and carried out a 78-day bombing campaign in Kosovo, suggesting that the law was broadly unconstitutional. Similarly, in 2011, Barack Obama intervened in Libya, without any authorisation from Congress, arguing that it was a joint NATO operation and no US ground troops were deployed. While Joe Biden did not start a war and moved away from Afghanistan, he went on to carry out strikes in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, supported war efforts in Israel and Ukraine, which were smaller in scale, bending the necessity of the War Powers Resolution.

Trump’s Iran stance revives a long history of US presidents bypassing Congress under the War Powers Act. Here’s how leaders from Nixon to Biden navigated it.

From Nixon to Trump: How US presidents have sidestepped Congress on war powers

It has been exactly 50 years since on August 9, 1974, for the first time the president of the United States stepped down from his position.&nbsp;

Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, became the only president to have resigned from his position after he got entangled in the Watergate scandal.

The scandal brought into daylight the Nixon administration's engagement in burglary, wiretapping, obstruction of justice and political sabotage and the president decided to resign while he faced a near-certain impeachment situation in the US Congress.&nbsp;

<h2>Who was Richard Nixon?</h2>

Richard Milhous Nixon was born into a Quaker family in Yorba Linda town of California on January 13, 1913.&nbsp;

He attended Whittier College and Duke University School of Law and cleared the California bar exam in 1937.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-democratic-party-nominee-kamala-harris-771170">US Elections: All you need to know about the Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris</a>

Nixon worked at a local law firm and served in the US Navy during World War II before he retired from active duty in 1946.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
He was elected to the US Congress in 1946 and to the Senate in 1950. In 1953, Nixon became the 36th Vice President of the United States during the regime of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.&nbsp;

<h2>Nixon's rise and fall</h2>

In 1960, Richard Nixon for the first time ran for presidential elections but faced defeat at the hands of John F. Kennedy.

In 1962, after his failed bid as the Governor of California, Nixon made a political comeback as the country's president.&nbsp;

During his presidential tenure, he made various foreign policy achievements and opened diplomatic relations with China.&nbsp;

Nixon also escalated the&nbsp;Vietnam War&nbsp;into Cambodia and Laos and carried ahead the policy of detente with the Soviet Union. Later, he gradually withdrew US troops in Vietnam.&nbsp;

He also established the&nbsp;Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and announced the “War on Drugs” while declaring drug abuse as the “public enemy number one.”

On June 17, 1972, the Watergate scandal broke out when five men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, DC and were later arrested.&nbsp;

The men were found to have a link with the 1972 re-election campaign of Nixon and soon it was found that the incident was part of political misdeeds and illegal activities of the Nixon administration.

The administration of Nixon was initially able to cover up its corrupt deeds and the president was able to again come to power in November 1972 with a landslide victory.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;US Election 2024: Closest Elections In US History

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However, after whistle-blowing within the FBI and investigative journalism, the illegal activities of the administration were uncovered.

The “Watergate Tapes” were out and revealed Nixon's clear involvement in the break-in, sanctioning hush money payment to the burglars and pressurising the FBI to put a halt to the investigation.&nbsp;

President Nixon, in his televised address to the country on April 30th, 1973, claimed that he was kept in the dark by his aides and infamously said he was “not a crook.”&nbsp;

However, bowing to the mounting pressure from the US Congress and the people, Nixon decided to resign from his post.&nbsp;

“I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first," the then-president said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

It has been exactly 50 years since on August 9, 1974, for the first time the president of the United States stepped down from his position. Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, became the only president to have resigned from his position after he got entangled in the Watergate scandal.

It has been exactly 50 years since on August 9, 1974, for the first time the president of the United States stepped down from his position. Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, became the only president to have resigned from his position after he got entangled in the Watergate scandal. The scandal brought into daylight the Nixon administration's engagement in burglary, wiretapping, obstruction of justice and political sabotage and the president decided to resign while he faced a near-certain impeachment situation in the US Congress. Who was Richard Nixon? Richard Milhous Nixon was born into a Quaker family in Yorba Linda town of California on January 13, 1913. He attended Whittier College and Duke University School of Law and cleared the California bar exam in 1937. Also Read: US Elections: All you need to know about the Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris Nixon worked at a local law firm and served in the US Navy during World War II before he retired from active duty in 1946. He was elected to the US Congress in 1946 and to the Senate in 1950. In 1953, Nixon became the 36th Vice President of the United States during the regime of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Nixon's rise and fall In 1960, Richard Nixon for the first time ran for presidential elections but faced defeat at the hands of John F. Kennedy. In 1962, after his failed bid as the Governor of California, Nixon made a political comeback as the country's president. During his presidential tenure, he made various foreign policy achievements and opened diplomatic relations with China. Nixon also escalated the Vietnam War into Cambodia and Laos and carried ahead the policy of detente with the Soviet Union. Later, he gradually withdrew US troops in Vietnam. He also established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and announced the “War on Drugs” while declaring drug abuse as the “public enemy number one.” On June 17, 1972, the Watergate scandal broke out when five men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, DC and were later arrested. The men were found to have a link with the 1972 re-election campaign of Nixon and soon it was found that the incident was part of political misdeeds and illegal activities of the Nixon administration. The administration of Nixon was initially able to cover up its corrupt deeds and the president was able to again come to power in November 1972 with a landslide victory. Watch: US Election 2024: Closest Elections In US History However, after whistle-blowing within the FBI and investigative journalism, the illegal activities of the administration were uncovered. The “Watergate Tapes” were out and revealed Nixon's clear involvement in the break-in, sanctioning hush money payment to the burglars and pressurising the FBI to put a halt to the investigation. President Nixon, in his televised address to the country on April 30th, 1973, claimed that he was kept in the dark by his aides and infamously said he was “not a crook.” However, bowing to the mounting pressure from the US Congress and the people, Nixon decided to resign from his post. “I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first," the then-president said. (With inputs from agencies)

US Elections 2024: Who was the only president to resign from office?

Henry Kissinger, the former US National Security Adviser and Secretary of State was a celebrated personality, who also faced a fair amount of criticism. But whichever&nbsp;way you look at him and his legacy, one thing is certain, he was one of the top statesmen who shaped not only US foreign policy but also&nbsp;global politics. For some, he was a 'world statesman', while others openly called him a 'war criminal' for the fallout of actions he took through his diplomacy.

For Kissinger, by his own admission, power was the ultimate aphrodisiac. He dated some actresses like Jill St. John, the first American bond girl, Marsha Metrinko and others if&nbsp;media reports&nbsp;are to be believed. It is also said that his&nbsp;image of a playboy was only&nbsp;media-generated.

Gravitas: How Henry Kissinger Went From India-hater to Urging for Stronger Ties

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One thing is for sure, Kissinger had firm control over&nbsp;US foreign policy as secretary of state during the years of President Richard Nixon. The two were&nbsp;close, although there were differences between them regarding matters related to&nbsp;some world conflicts.

<h2>The Nixon doctrine</h2>

The so-called 'Nixon doctrine' of US policy can safely be called Nixon-Kissinger doctrine, such was Kissinger's influence. This approach was announced by President Nixon in 1969. This doctrine said that the US should help its allies with economic and military aid when a conflict occurs and should avoid sending US troops. Nixon even said that the United States could no longer afford to defend its allies fully. The US would of course uphold treaty obligations but would also expect allies to contribute for&nbsp;their own defence.

However,&nbsp;Nixon assured the allies that US nuclear assets would continue to protect them in case of a nuclear threat.

The Nixon doctrine was announced at the time of the Vietnam War. And in contradiction to what the doctrine said, US troops were already involved in the conflict.

Although Nixon announced the doctrine, the US did not fully adhere to it as seen in the invasions of Cambodia (1970) and Laos (1971).

Henry Kissinger was called a realist who put stock in realpolitik, that is, taking decisions on practicality and real situations rather than on moral considerations.

Kissinger was credited with some of the major foreign policy successes.

<h2>Rapprochement with China</h2>

China and the US have sparred over Taiwan for decades. During Kissinger's time, China was emerging as a formidable global power but he remained firm on his position that Taiwan was not a part of the Chinese territory.

Kissinger developed what is called 'triangular diplomacy' and sought to align the US with China to form a semblance of coalition against China's Communist rival Soviet Russia, which was a US adversary too.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bhopal-gas-tragedy-and-henry-kissingers-controversial-legacy-of-secretive-dealings-665120">Bhopal gas tragedy and Henry Kissinger's controversial legacy of secretive dealings</a>

Though US and China's position&nbsp;on Taiwan was poles apart, Kissinger's diplomatic efforts with top Chinese leadership resulted in the groundbreaking 1972 summit between Nixon, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, and Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong.

<h2>Detente with Soviet Union</h2>

America's efforts to draw closer to China did not mean it abandoned the policy of stabilising relations with the Soviet Union.&nbsp;Kissinger had a part to play in this.

He developed a policy with the aim to establish&nbsp;warmer political ties with the Soviet Union. Kissinger's efforts eventually culminated in the revival of talks between the two superpowers to mutually reduce the size of their nuclear arsenal.

The US and Soviet Russia signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, SALT I and SALT II, in 1972 and 1979 respectively.

<h2>Shuttle diplomacy</h2>

So indelible is Kissinger's mark on the world and art of diplomacy that a separate term was coined to describe his efforts toward cessation of hostilities in the Arab-Israel war of 1973.

A shuttle diplomacy is when two mediating parties do not have direct contact and a mediator travels between the principal locations of each to carry on the negotiation. Kissinger's effort in the 1973 war, also known as the Yom Kippur War helped disengage the warring sides.

<h2>Kissinger and controversies</h2>

Kissinger was undoubtedly one of the most prominent diplomats of the 20th century. He&nbsp;shaped the contours of world politics and there&nbsp;are no two opinions to it. However, Kissinger's critics have at times&nbsp;called him a 'war criminal' because of the direct or indirect effects of his diplomatic strategies.

Although Kissinger was heavily involved in the diplomatic efforts surrounding the Vietnam War, some of his critics say that his efforts worsened the situation. He also faced flak for America's bombing of Cambodia, which was a noncombatant country in the context of the Vietnam War.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kissinger-should-have-apologised-for-1971-war-role-bangladesh-fm-a-k-abdul-momen-664750">Kissinger should have apologised for 1971 war role: Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen</a>

Kissinger has also been accused of supporting anti-democratic activities of right-wing governments in Latin America by way of inaction.

Then there are again the allegations that Nixon and Kissinger were ignoring mass atrocities and murders committed by the Pakistani Army in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and even nudged the Chinese to attack India when it sent troops to liberate Bangladesh.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cast-from-the-past-when-kissinger-failed-to-make-china-attack-india-during-1971-bangladesh-liberation-war-664777">Cast From The Past: When Kissinger failed to make China attack India during 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War</a>

An unapologetic Realist, Kissinger did play his cards the way he wanted to. With his passing, another major personality, however controversial, from the Cold War era, is lost to time.

Henry Kissinger, the former US National Security Adviser and Secretary of State was a celebrated personality, who also faced a fair amount of criticism. But whichever way you look at him and his legacy, one thing is certain, he was one of the top statesmen who shaped not only US foreign policy but also global politics.

Henry Kissinger, the former US National Security Adviser and Secretary of State was a celebrated personality, who also faced a fair amount of criticism. But whichever way you look at him and his legacy, one thing is certain, he was one of the top statesmen who shaped not only US foreign policy but also global politics. For some, he was a 'world statesman', while others openly called him a 'war criminal' for the fallout of actions he took through his diplomacy. For Kissinger, by his own admission, power was the ultimate aphrodisiac. He dated some actresses like Jill St. John, the first American bond girl, Marsha Metrinko and others if media reports are to be believed. It is also said that his image of a playboy was only media-generated. Gravitas: How Henry Kissinger Went From India-hater to Urging for Stronger Ties × One thing is for sure, Kissinger had firm control over US foreign policy as secretary of state during the years of President Richard Nixon. The two were close, although there were differences between them regarding matters related to some world conflicts. The Nixon doctrine The so-called 'Nixon doctrine' of US policy can safely be called Nixon-Kissinger doctrine, such was Kissinger's influence. This approach was announced by President Nixon in 1969. This doctrine said that the US should help its allies with economic and military aid when a conflict occurs and should avoid sending US troops. Nixon even said that the United States could no longer afford to defend its allies fully. The US would of course uphold treaty obligations but would also expect allies to contribute for their own defence. However, Nixon assured the allies that US nuclear assets would continue to protect them in case of a nuclear threat. The Nixon doctrine was announced at the time of the Vietnam War. And in contradiction to what the doctrine said, US troops were already involved in the conflict. Although Nixon announced the doctrine, the US did not fully adhere to it as seen in the invasions of Cambodia (1970) and Laos (1971). Henry Kissinger was called a realist who put stock in realpolitik, that is, taking decisions on practicality and real situations rather than on moral considerations. Kissinger was credited with some of the major foreign policy successes. Rapprochement with China China and the US have sparred over Taiwan for decades. During Kissinger's time, China was emerging as a formidable global power but he remained firm on his position that Taiwan was not a part of the Chinese territory. Kissinger developed what is called 'triangular diplomacy' and sought to align the US with China to form a semblance of coalition against China's Communist rival Soviet Russia, which was a US adversary too. Also Read | Bhopal gas tragedy and Henry Kissinger's controversial legacy of secretive dealings Though US and China's position on Taiwan was poles apart, Kissinger's diplomatic efforts with top Chinese leadership resulted in the groundbreaking 1972 summit between Nixon, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, and Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong. Detente with Soviet Union America's efforts to draw closer to China did not mean it abandoned the policy of stabilising relations with the Soviet Union. Kissinger had a part to play in this. He developed a policy with the aim to establish warmer political ties with the Soviet Union. Kissinger's efforts eventually culminated in the revival of talks between the two superpowers to mutually reduce the size of their nuclear arsenal. The US and Soviet Russia signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, SALT I and SALT II, in 1972 and 1979 respectively. Shuttle diplomacy So indelible is Kissinger's mark on the world and art of diplomacy that a separate term was coined to describe his efforts toward cessation of hostilities in the Arab-Israel war of 1973. A shuttle diplomacy is when two mediating parties do not have direct contact and a mediator travels between the principal locations of each to carry on the negotiation. Kissinger's effort in the 1973 war, also known as the Yom Kippur War helped disengage the warring sides. Kissinger and controversies Kissinger was undoubtedly one of the most prominent diplomats of the 20th century. He shaped the contours of world politics and there are no two opinions to it. However, Kissinger's critics have at times called him a 'war criminal' because of the direct or indirect effects of his diplomatic strategies. Although Kissinger was heavily involved in the diplomatic efforts surrounding the Vietnam War, some of his critics say that his efforts worsened the situation. He also faced flak for America's bombing of Cambodia, which was a noncombatant country in the context of the Vietnam War. Also Read | Kissinger should have apologised for 1971 war role: Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen Kissinger has also been accused of supporting anti-democratic activities of right-wing governments in Latin America by way of inaction. Then there are again the allegations that Nixon and Kissinger were ignoring mass atrocities and murders committed by the Pakistani Army in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and even nudged the Chinese to attack India when it sent troops to liberate Bangladesh. Also Read | Cast From The Past: When Kissinger failed to make China attack India during 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War An unapologetic Realist, Kissinger did play his cards the way he wanted to. With his passing, another major personality, however controversial, from the Cold War era, is lost to time.

Explained: Henry Kissinger's foreign policy, achievements and controversies

A break-in 50 years ago by Republican operatives at a Washington office led to the historic resignation of US president Richard Nixon. But it reverberated more deeply around the world with the coining of a single term: Watergate. That's the name of a Potomac riverside building as that building lent its name to one of the greatest American political crimes. The suffix 'gate' became the signifier for scandals worldwide.

From Watergate to Partygate: Shorthand for scandal

Watergate scandal: Here is a timeline of how events unfolded

It all began when a vigilant night watchman noticed a piece of tape on a door of the building where the Democratic National Committee's headquarters was located in Washington in June 1972.

Calling the police, he triggered the&nbsp;Watergate&nbsp;scandal that would topple the presidency of Richard Nixon, the only US leader ever to resign.

The tape, it turned out, was placed during a break-in by five men who had been tasked by officials with ties to the White House with placing microphones and taking pictures of documents to find compromising information on Nixon's opponents.

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Tape on a door

The night of June 16-17, 24-year-old security guard Frank Wills was making the rounds at the&nbsp;Watergate&nbsp;buliding complex when he noticed the tape on a door that prevented it from locking.

At first, he didn't worry, removing it and continuing working.

But when he returned, so had the tape, leading him to suspect a break-in had occurred. Wills -- who plays himself for a few seconds at the beginning of the film "All the President's Men" that chronicles the saga -- immediately called police.

"Found tape on door. Call police to make a inspection," he wrote in a building security officer's log, which has been preserved by the US National Archives.

Police officers arrived on the scene within "a minute, a minute and a half," one of them, John Barrett, told ABC News in 2017.

He and fellow officer Paul Leeper were dressed in plain clothes, and were even a little scruffy.

That worked in their favor, as Alfred Baldwin, the man who was supposed to be keeping watch during the break-in, did not seem to notice them right away. His attention may have been focused on the movie "Attack of the Puppet People," which was being shown on TV.

"He was glued to the TV set," and by the time he warned the others, "it was too late and they had to run and hide like rats," Barrett said.

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Come out with your hands up

Once inside the office, the two officers found tape on several doors, realizing that something fishy was going on.

"Our adrenaline is pumped," Leeper told ABC.

They found ransacked offices and suspected that the perpetrators were still present, and started to search for them room by room.

Suddenly, Barrett saw an arm. "It scared the living bejeezus out of me," he said.

"I scream something to the effect, 'Come out with your hands up or I'm gonna blow your head off.'"

"Ten hands went up, and they came out, and that's where the arrest occurred," Barrett said.

Across the street, Baldwin had his ear to a walkie-talkie. "In a very soft whisper, I heard a voice: They've got us," he said.

Not a 'typical burglary'

The 10 hands belonged to James McCord, Virgilio Gonzalez, Frank Sturgis, Eugenio Martinez and Bernard Barker.

The police soon realized that this "was not your normal, typical burglary," Barrett said.

Not only were the burglars dressed in suits and ties, but they had bugging devices, tear gas pens, numerous rolls of film, locksmith tools, and thousands of dollars in hundred dollar bills, he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g-gordon-liddy-watergate-break-in-mastermind-dies-at-90-374414">G Gordon Liddy, Watergate break-in mastermind, dies at 90</a>

On June 18, The Washington Post published its first article on the subject. It was bylined Alfred E Lewis, the reporter covering the police. But its list of contributors at the end also included the names Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

The two young reporters took over, investigating the details of the case that brought down Nixon's presidency two years later, and winning the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for their work.

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It all began when a vigilant night watchman noticed a piece of tape on a door of the building where the Democratic National Committee's headquarters was located in Washington in June 1972.

It all began when a vigilant night watchman noticed a piece of tape on a door of the building where the Democratic National Committee's headquarters was located in Washington in June 1972. Calling the police, he triggered the Watergate scandal that would topple the presidency of Richard Nixon, the only US leader ever to resign. The tape, it turned out, was placed during a break-in by five men who had been tasked by officials with ties to the White House with placing microphones and taking pictures of documents to find compromising information on Nixon's opponents. Also read | US election 2020: Controversies associated with Watergate scandal reporter Bob Woodward Tape on a door The night of June 16-17, 24-year-old security guard Frank Wills was making the rounds at the Watergate buliding complex when he noticed the tape on a door that prevented it from locking. At first, he didn't worry, removing it and continuing working. But when he returned, so had the tape, leading him to suspect a break-in had occurred. Wills -- who plays himself for a few seconds at the beginning of the film "All the President's Men" that chronicles the saga -- immediately called police. "Found tape on door. Call police to make a inspection," he wrote in a building security officer's log, which has been preserved by the US National Archives. Police officers arrived on the scene within "a minute, a minute and a half," one of them, John Barrett, told ABC News in 2017. He and fellow officer Paul Leeper were dressed in plain clothes, and were even a little scruffy. That worked in their favor, as Alfred Baldwin, the man who was supposed to be keeping watch during the break-in, did not seem to notice them right away. His attention may have been focused on the movie "Attack of the Puppet People," which was being shown on TV. "He was glued to the TV set," and by the time he warned the others, "it was too late and they had to run and hide like rats," Barrett said. Watch | Gravitas: US stocks fall into bear market territory Come out with your hands up Once inside the office, the two officers found tape on several doors, realizing that something fishy was going on. "Our adrenaline is pumped," Leeper told ABC. They found ransacked offices and suspected that the perpetrators were still present, and started to search for them room by room. Suddenly, Barrett saw an arm. "It scared the living bejeezus out of me," he said. "I scream something to the effect, 'Come out with your hands up or I'm gonna blow your head off.'" "Ten hands went up, and they came out, and that's where the arrest occurred," Barrett said. Across the street, Baldwin had his ear to a walkie-talkie. "In a very soft whisper, I heard a voice: They've got us," he said. Not a 'typical burglary' The 10 hands belonged to James McCord, Virgilio Gonzalez, Frank Sturgis, Eugenio Martinez and Bernard Barker. The police soon realized that this "was not your normal, typical burglary," Barrett said. Not only were the burglars dressed in suits and ties, but they had bugging devices, tear gas pens, numerous rolls of film, locksmith tools, and thousands of dollars in hundred dollar bills, he said. Also read | G Gordon Liddy, Watergate break-in mastermind, dies at 90 On June 18, The Washington Post published its first article on the subject. It was bylined Alfred E Lewis, the reporter covering the police. But its list of contributors at the end also included the names Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. The two young reporters took over, investigating the details of the case that brought down Nixon's presidency two years later, and winning the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for their work. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watergate: The president-toppling scandal triggered by a piece of tape

September 9 in history: Beginning of China's incursion in India, Nixon pardoned for Watergate Scandal and more

Newly declassified White House tapes disclose former US president Richard Nixon spoke disparagingly about Indians and reveal the bigotry he and his national security advisor Henry Kissinger held.

This bigotry, it's said, influenced US policy toward India and South Asia under his presidency.

Richard Nixon, a Republican, was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 until 1974.

"As Americans grapple with problems of racism and power, a newly declassified trove of White House tapes provides startling evidence of the bigotry voiced by President Richard M. Nixon and Henry Kissinger, his national security adviser," Gary Bass, professor at Princeton, wrote in an opinion piece 'The Terrible Cost of Presidential Racism' in The New York Times.

"The full content of these tapes reveal how U.S. policy toward South Asia under Mr. Nixon was influenced by his hatred of, and sexual repulsion toward, Indians," Bass, author of 'The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger and a Forgotten Genocide'', writes.

Bass says that the declassified White House tapes reveal a "stunning" conversation between Nixon, Kissinger and the then White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman in the Oval Office in June 1971 in which Nixon asserts in a "venomous tone" that Indian women are "undoubtedly the most unattractive women in the world."

Nixon also calls Indians "most sexless", "nothing" and "pathetic", according to the tapes.

"On Nov. 4, 1971, during a private break from a contentious White House summit with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India - a rare woman leader at the time - the President harangued Mr. Kissinger about his sexual disgust at Indians," Bass writes.

Referring to Indians, Nixon says to Kissinger: "To me, they turn me off. How the hell do they turn other people on, Henry? Tell me." Bass writes that while Kissinger's response is inaudible in the tapes, "it did not discourage the president from his theme."

In November 1971, in the middle of a discussion about India-Pakistan tensions with Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers, after Rogers mentioned reprimanding Gandhi, the President blurted, "I don't know how they reproduce!"

Bass writes in the NYT piece that while Kissinger has portrayed himself as being above the racism of the Nixon White House, the tapes show "him joining in the bigotry, though the tapes cannot determine whether he truly shared the president''s prejudices or was just pandering to him."

For instance, on June 3, 1971, Kissinger was "indignant" at the Indians as the country sheltered millions of Bengali refugees who had fled the Pakistan Army. Kissinger blamed the Indians for causing the refugee flow and then condemned Indians as a whole, as he said, "They are a scavenging people."

At one point, Kissinger had said Indians are "superb flatterers" and "are masters at flattery. They are masters at subtle flattery. That's how they survived 600 years. They suck up -- their great skill is to suck up to people in key positions."

Nixon had even been furious with his ambassador to India Kenneth Keating, who two days earlier had confronted Nixon and Kissinger in the Oval Office, calling Pakistan's crackdown "almost entirely a matter of genocide." Bass says that Nixon and Kissinger had "staunchly supported" the military regime in Pakistan as it killed hundreds of thousands of Bengalis, with 10 million refugees fleeing into neighbouring India.

Voicing prejudices about Pakistanis, Kissinger had in August 1971 told Nixon that "the Pakistanis are fine people, but they are primitive in their mental structure."

He added, "They just don't have the subtlety of the Indians."

"These emotional displays of prejudice help to explain a foreign policy debacle," Bass says, adding that Nixon and Kissinger''s policies toward South Asia in 1971 "were not just a moral disaster but a strategic fiasco on their own Cold War terms.

While Nixon and Kissinger "had some reasons to favour Pakistan, an American ally which was secretly helping to bring about their historic opening to China, their biases and emotions contributed to their excessive support for Pakistan's murderous dictatorship throughout its atrocities," Bass said. "For decades, Mr. Nixon and Mr. Kissinger have portrayed themselves as brilliant practitioners of realpolitik, running a foreign policy that dispassionately served the interests of the United States.

"But these declassified White House tapes confirm a starkly different picture: racism and misogyny at the highest levels, covered up for decades under ludicrous claims of national security. A fair historical assessment of Mr. Nixon and Mr. Kissinger must include the full truth, unbleeped," Bass says. In December 2012, Bass had filed a legal request for a mandatory declassification review with the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

The Nixon archivists released a few unbleeped tapes in May 2018, July 2019 and this May "after considerable wrangling". 
&nbsp;

Newly declassified White House tapes disclose former US president Richard Nixon spoke disparagingly about Indians and reveal the bigotry he and his national security advisor Henry Kissinger held.

Newly declassified White House tapes disclose former US president Richard Nixon spoke disparagingly about Indians and reveal the bigotry he and his national security advisor Henry Kissinger held. This bigotry, it's said, influenced US policy toward India and South Asia under his presidency. Richard Nixon, a Republican, was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 until 1974. "As Americans grapple with problems of racism and power, a newly declassified trove of White House tapes provides startling evidence of the bigotry voiced by President Richard M. Nixon and Henry Kissinger, his national security adviser," Gary Bass, professor at Princeton, wrote in an opinion piece 'The Terrible Cost of Presidential Racism' in The New York Times. "The full content of these tapes reveal how U.S. policy toward South Asia under Mr. Nixon was influenced by his hatred of, and sexual repulsion toward, Indians," Bass, author of 'The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger and a Forgotten Genocide'', writes. Bass says that the declassified White House tapes reveal a "stunning" conversation between Nixon, Kissinger and the then White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman in the Oval Office in June 1971 in which Nixon asserts in a "venomous tone" that Indian women are "undoubtedly the most unattractive women in the world." Nixon also calls Indians "most sexless", "nothing" and "pathetic", according to the tapes. "On Nov. 4, 1971, during a private break from a contentious White House summit with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India - a rare woman leader at the time - the President harangued Mr. Kissinger about his sexual disgust at Indians," Bass writes. Referring to Indians, Nixon says to Kissinger: "To me, they turn me off. How the hell do they turn other people on, Henry? Tell me." Bass writes that while Kissinger's response is inaudible in the tapes, "it did not discourage the president from his theme." In November 1971, in the middle of a discussion about India-Pakistan tensions with Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers, after Rogers mentioned reprimanding Gandhi, the President blurted, "I don't know how they reproduce!" Bass writes in the NYT piece that while Kissinger has portrayed himself as being above the racism of the Nixon White House, the tapes show "him joining in the bigotry, though the tapes cannot determine whether he truly shared the president''s prejudices or was just pandering to him." For instance, on June 3, 1971, Kissinger was "indignant" at the Indians as the country sheltered millions of Bengali refugees who had fled the Pakistan Army. Kissinger blamed the Indians for causing the refugee flow and then condemned Indians as a whole, as he said, "They are a scavenging people." At one point, Kissinger had said Indians are "superb flatterers" and "are masters at flattery. They are masters at subtle flattery. That's how they survived 600 years. They suck up -- their great skill is to suck up to people in key positions." Nixon had even been furious with his ambassador to India Kenneth Keating, who two days earlier had confronted Nixon and Kissinger in the Oval Office, calling Pakistan's crackdown "almost entirely a matter of genocide." Bass says that Nixon and Kissinger had "staunchly supported" the military regime in Pakistan as it killed hundreds of thousands of Bengalis, with 10 million refugees fleeing into neighbouring India. Voicing prejudices about Pakistanis, Kissinger had in August 1971 told Nixon that "the Pakistanis are fine people, but they are primitive in their mental structure." He added, "They just don't have the subtlety of the Indians." "These emotional displays of prejudice help to explain a foreign policy debacle," Bass says, adding that Nixon and Kissinger''s policies toward South Asia in 1971 "were not just a moral disaster but a strategic fiasco on their own Cold War terms. While Nixon and Kissinger "had some reasons to favour Pakistan, an American ally which was secretly helping to bring about their historic opening to China, their biases and emotions contributed to their excessive support for Pakistan's murderous dictatorship throughout its atrocities," Bass said. "For decades, Mr. Nixon and Mr. Kissinger have portrayed themselves as brilliant practitioners of realpolitik, running a foreign policy that dispassionately served the interests of the United States. "But these declassified White House tapes confirm a starkly different picture: racism and misogyny at the highest levels, covered up for decades under ludicrous claims of national security. A fair historical assessment of Mr. Nixon and Mr. Kissinger must include the full truth, unbleeped," Bass says. In December 2012, Bass had filed a legal request for a mandatory declassification review with the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. The Nixon archivists released a few unbleeped tapes in May 2018, July 2019 and this May "after considerable wrangling".

New tapes reveal former US president Richard Nixon's 'hatred' towards Indians

Most infamous and shocking presidential pardons in the history of US

US Presidents who have visited India

A dark cloud of impeachment has threatened President <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-democratic-congresswoman-should-apologize-to-america-237518&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi2z5WmuMjjAhXN63MBHTx7BTE4ChAWMAN6BAgOEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw0hPftQsY_ekxSVDPZWQJZy">Donald Trump</a> for many months, with Democrats in the US House of Representatives, where any such effort to remove him from office would begin, divided about whether to proceed.

In American politics, few procedures are as arduous or as divisive as the Constitution's carefully balanced law for ousting a chief executive found to be unfit to serve.

No president has ever been removed as a direct result of it. One, President Richard Nixon, resigned before he could be&nbsp;removed. Two, presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, were impeached by the House, but not convicted by the Senate.

Since he took office in January 2017, Trump has been under investigation. A turning point came in mid-April with the release of a redacted version of a long-awaited report from former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

On Wednesday, Mueller will testify before two House committees about his report, with Democrats planning to focus the proceedings on Trump's conduct. The strategy, described by Democratic congressional aides, is intended to build support among Americans for Democrats' investigative agenda, possibly leading to impeachment proceedings.

The 448-page Mueller report explored an effort by Moscow to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election to help Trump win. It described contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russians but found insufficient evidence to establish that the Trump campaign and the Kremlin engaged in a criminal conspiracy.

The Mueller report also described numerous attempts by Trump and his advisers to impede Mueller's investigation but offered no conclusion on whether obstruction of justice was committed.

Trump has attacked Mueller, called his probe a "witch hunt" and scorned talk of impeachment as "dirty, filthy, disgusting."

Some lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House favour starting the impeachment process, but their leaders have resisted these demands. Last week, an impeachment resolution came to a vote on the House floor and was killed.

The Senate is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, meaning that any impeachment proceedings that might begin in the House would likely die in the Republican-controlled Senate, unless public sentiment was to shift dramatically in favour of removing the president.

About 45 per cent of Americans said Trump should be impeached in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in May, up from 40 per cent in April.

WATCH:&nbsp;Somalis on Trump telling congresswomen 'go back'

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Here is how the impeachment process works.

Why impeachment? 
The founders of the United States created the office of the presidency and feared that its powers could be abused. So they included impeachment as a central part of the Constitution.

They gave the House "the sole power of impeachment;" the Senate, "the sole power to try all impeachments" and the chief justice of the Supreme Court the duty of presiding over impeachment trials in the Senate.

The president, under the Constitution, can be removed from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." What exactly that means is unclear. Historically, it can encompass corruption and other abuses, including trying to obstruct judicial proceedings.

How does it work? 
Impeachment begins in the House, which debates and votes on whether to bring charges against the president via approval of an impeachment resolution, or "articles of impeachment," by a simple majority of the House's 435 members.

If the House approves such a resolution, a trial is then held in the Senate. House members act as the prosecutors; the senators as jurors; the chief justice presides. A two-thirds majority vote is required in the 100-member Senate to convict and remove a president. This has never happened.

Can the Supreme Court overturn? 
No. Trump has said on Twitter that he would ask the Supreme Court to intervene if Democrats tried to impeach him. But the founders explicitly rejected making a Senate conviction appealable to the federal judiciary.

Party breakdown in Congress? 
The House has 235 Democrats, 197 Republicans, one independent and two vacant seats. As a result, the Democrats could impeach Trump with no Republican support.

In 1998, when Republicans had a House majority, the chamber voted largely along party lines to impeach Clinton, a Democrat.

The Senate now has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. Conviction and removal of a president would require 67 votes. So, for Trump to be impeached, at least 20 Republicans and all the Democrats and independents would have to vote against him.

Who becomes President if Trump is removed? 
In the unlikely event the Senate convicted Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would become president for the remainder of Trump's term, which ends on January 20, 2021.

A dark cloud of impeachment has threatened President Donald Trump for many months, with Democrats in the US House of Representatives, where any such effort to remove him from office would begin, divided about whether to proceed.

A dark cloud of impeachment has threatened President Donald Trump for many months, with Democrats in the US House of Representatives, where any such effort to remove him from office would begin, divided about whether to proceed. In American politics, few procedures are as arduous or as divisive as the Constitution's carefully balanced law for ousting a chief executive found to be unfit to serve. No president has ever been removed as a direct result of it. One, President Richard Nixon, resigned before he could be removed. Two, presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, were impeached by the House, but not convicted by the Senate. Since he took office in January 2017, Trump has been under investigation. A turning point came in mid-April with the release of a redacted version of a long-awaited report from former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller. On Wednesday, Mueller will testify before two House committees about his report, with Democrats planning to focus the proceedings on Trump's conduct. The strategy, described by Democratic congressional aides, is intended to build support among Americans for Democrats' investigative agenda, possibly leading to impeachment proceedings. The 448-page Mueller report explored an effort by Moscow to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election to help Trump win. It described contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russians but found insufficient evidence to establish that the Trump campaign and the Kremlin engaged in a criminal conspiracy. The Mueller report also described numerous attempts by Trump and his advisers to impede Mueller's investigation but offered no conclusion on whether obstruction of justice was committed. Trump has attacked Mueller, called his probe a "witch hunt" and scorned talk of impeachment as "dirty, filthy, disgusting." Some lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House favour starting the impeachment process, but their leaders have resisted these demands. Last week, an impeachment resolution came to a vote on the House floor and was killed. The Senate is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, meaning that any impeachment proceedings that might begin in the House would likely die in the Republican-controlled Senate, unless public sentiment was to shift dramatically in favour of removing the president. About 45 per cent of Americans said Trump should be impeached in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in May, up from 40 per cent in April. WATCH: Somalis on Trump telling congresswomen 'go back' × Here is how the impeachment process works. Why impeachment? The founders of the United States created the office of the presidency and feared that its powers could be abused. So they included impeachment as a central part of the Constitution. They gave the House "the sole power of impeachment;" the Senate, "the sole power to try all impeachments" and the chief justice of the Supreme Court the duty of presiding over impeachment trials in the Senate. The president, under the Constitution, can be removed from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." What exactly that means is unclear. Historically, it can encompass corruption and other abuses, including trying to obstruct judicial proceedings. How does it work? Impeachment begins in the House, which debates and votes on whether to bring charges against the president via approval of an impeachment resolution, or "articles of impeachment," by a simple majority of the House's 435 members. If the House approves such a resolution, a trial is then held in the Senate. House members act as the prosecutors; the senators as jurors; the chief justice presides. A two-thirds majority vote is required in the 100-member Senate to convict and remove a president. This has never happened. Can the Supreme Court overturn? No. Trump has said on Twitter that he would ask the Supreme Court to intervene if Democrats tried to impeach him. But the founders explicitly rejected making a Senate conviction appealable to the federal judiciary. Party breakdown in Congress? The House has 235 Democrats, 197 Republicans, one independent and two vacant seats. As a result, the Democrats could impeach Trump with no Republican support. In 1998, when Republicans had a House majority, the chamber voted largely along party lines to impeach Clinton, a Democrat. The Senate now has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. Conviction and removal of a president would require 67 votes. So, for Trump to be impeached, at least 20 Republicans and all the Democrats and independents would have to vote against him. Who becomes President if Trump is removed? In the unlikely event the Senate convicted Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would become president for the remainder of Trump's term, which ends on January 20, 2021.

What it would take for US Congress to impeach Trump?

A formal request from a Democratic committee chairman to see six years of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-billionaire-buffett-challenges-trump-to-reveal-tax-returns-3921">Donald Trump's tax returns</a> was forcibly rejected Sunday by a top presidential aide, who said Democrats would "never" see the documents.

Trump is the first US president since Richard Nixon to refuse to divulge his tax information.

Representative Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sparked a contentious battle on Wednesday when he made the request using a little-known provision in the tax code, saying, "It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials."

But when Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, was asked Sunday whether Democrats would ever see the returns, he was unequivocal.&nbsp;

"Never," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "Nor should they."

Mulvaney asserted that since voters knew ahead of the 2016 election that Trump would not reveal his returns and then elected him anyway, the matter was "already litigated."

He said that while there are legal provisions for the Internal Revenue Service to turn tax papers over to the Ways and Means Committee -- the chief tax-writing committee in the House -- a "political" attack is not a valid reason.

Separately, Jay Sekulow, a private attorney for Trump, argued that the Democratic-controlled House was trying to move beyond its constitutionally mandated role of oversight into the realm of law enforcement.

If the Democrats want to know "if the IRS is doing its job auditing the president, they could ask the IRS," he said on ABC's "This Week."&nbsp;

"A Ways and Means hearing about IRS enforcement as a way to get to the president's private individual and business tax returns makes no sense, both constitutionally and statutorily," Sekulow said.

But Dan Kildee, a Democratic member of Ways and Means, took strong exception.

"We're looking very carefully as to whether or not the IRS is properly auditing and enforcing tax law on the president of the United States, and we're considering legislative changes toward that end," he said on ABC.

"It's not up to President Trump -- or some lawyer that President Trump hires -- to determine whether or not this co-equal branch of government has the tools available to make the deliberations necessary in order to make policy.

"This is not an autocracy."

A formal request from a Democratic committee chairman to see six years of Donald Trump's tax returns was forcibly rejected Sunday by a top presidential aide, who said Democrats would "never" see the documents.

A formal request from a Democratic committee chairman to see six years of Donald Trump's tax returns was forcibly rejected Sunday by a top presidential aide, who said Democrats would "never" see the documents. Trump is the first US president since Richard Nixon to refuse to divulge his tax information. Representative Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sparked a contentious battle on Wednesday when he made the request using a little-known provision in the tax code, saying, "It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials." But when Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, was asked Sunday whether Democrats would ever see the returns, he was unequivocal. "Never," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "Nor should they." Mulvaney asserted that since voters knew ahead of the 2016 election that Trump would not reveal his returns and then elected him anyway, the matter was "already litigated." He said that while there are legal provisions for the Internal Revenue Service to turn tax papers over to the Ways and Means Committee -- the chief tax-writing committee in the House -- a "political" attack is not a valid reason. Separately, Jay Sekulow, a private attorney for Trump, argued that the Democratic-controlled House was trying to move beyond its constitutionally mandated role of oversight into the realm of law enforcement. If the Democrats want to know "if the IRS is doing its job auditing the president, they could ask the IRS," he said on ABC's "This Week." "A Ways and Means hearing about IRS enforcement as a way to get to the president's private individual and business tax returns makes no sense, both constitutionally and statutorily," Sekulow said. But Dan Kildee, a Democratic member of Ways and Means, took strong exception. "We're looking very carefully as to whether or not the IRS is properly auditing and enforcing tax law on the president of the United States, and we're considering legislative changes toward that end," he said on ABC. "It's not up to President Trump -- or some lawyer that President Trump hires -- to determine whether or not this co-equal branch of government has the tools available to make the deliberations necessary in order to make policy. "This is not an autocracy."

Top aide says Democrats will 'never' see Trump tax returns

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What it would take for US Congress to impeach Trump?

Top aide says Democrats will 'never' see Trump tax returns

Top aide says Democrats will 'never' see Trump tax returns