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A listener note, this episode previously aired in 2022.

Wondry. It's July.

It's July 1973 in Bethesda, Maryland.

Richard Nixon slowly opens his eyes and takes in his surroundings.

It's morning. Nixon is in bed, alone, and across the room, sunlight is peeking through the blinds landing on a series of paintings along the wall. Nixon rubs his eyes. He still feels

disoriented. But as he slowly wakes up, he realizes where he is. It's not the White House, and it's not a luxurious hotel suite.

Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, is laid up in a naval hospital.

His body seems to be collapsing, and four days ago, his doctors diagnosed him with viral pneumonia.

The infection sounded like it could be serious.

But Nixon wasn't immediately concerned about his health.

His mind is on something else.

An event that's upended his life and maybe triggered the pneumonia.

It has the potential to destroy Nixon's political career

and could even do long-term damage to America's democracy. It's an endless nightmare that's consumed Nixon's political career and could even do long-term damage to America's democracy.

It's an endless nightmare that's consumed Nixon's administration for the past 13 months.

It started when five burglars were arrested at the Watergate complex, not far from the White House.

And ever since then, there's been a steady drumbeat of scandal and intrigue.

Now it's reaching a fever pitch.

...