In the summer of 1972, five thieves broke into the Watergate Hotel where the Democratic Convention was being held. The thieves were eventually caught and arrested, but one of the thieves implicated the then President of the United States of America, Richard Nixon, in planning the break-in. After weeks of congressional subpoenas requesting tapes used to record activities at the White House. It was then that Richard Nixon would irrevocably change the future of America by doing something every president had done before him, he would use executive privilege to block the investigation into the White House's role in the Watergate break-in. By invoking executive privilege, Richard Nixon proved his guilt and permanently changed American history. Of course, this wasn't the first time executive privilege had been invoked. In 1776, George Washington used a derivative version of executive privilege to withhold documents related to a failed military expedition. Even though Washington turned the documents over to Congress, it would forever be noted that this would be the first example of executive privilege. Despite not actually using executive privilege, it is still seen as the first use of executive privilege in American history. When George Washington wrote his letter to Congress regarding executive privilege, it was assumed that he intended to use executive privilege for the welfare of America. and not for personal gain. Despite popular opinion, most presidents have followed the precedent of George Washington. Americans may never truly know what was hidden, but since there is really no public outcry when a president uses it in matters similar to how George Washington used executive privilege, it generally happens with... half a paper. ... ..executive privilege.” July 12, 2012. http://www.libertylawsite.org/2012/07/12/the-constitution-and-executive-privilege/IbidBy Stencel, Mark. “The Reform,” June 13, 1997. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/legacy.htm By Childress, Sarah. “When Presidents Invoke Executive Privilege.” June 20, 2012. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/when-Presidents-invoke-executive-privilege/"Nixon Interview with David Frost (4 of 6)" YouTube video, 9:13 Posted by "mistere999" on June 10, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdswENkHq18 By Childress, Sarah. When Presidents Invoke Executive Privilege. June 20, 2012 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/when-Presidents-invoke-executive-privilege/ Watergate.info “Chronology:1973” http://watergate. info/chronology/1973-chronology