Final answer:
The main difference between the Irangate scandal and Watergate is the level of presidential involvement; Reagan claimed ignorance and avoided impeachment, while Nixon was heavily involved and resigned to avoid it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Irangate scandal, also known as the Iran-Contra affair, and the Watergate scandal of the Nixon administration are both significant political scandals in American history, but they have distinct differences. The most apparent difference lies in the involvement and awareness of the Presidents themselves. In the case of Watergate, there was substantial evidence that President Nixon had knowledge of the break-in and tried to cover it up, ultimately leading to his resignation to avoid impeachment. Conversely, President Reagan maintained that he was unaware of the Iran-Contra affair's details, where arms were sold to Iran with profits used to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua. This perceived ignorance, whether genuine or not, played a role in Reagan avoiding impeachment, with many Americans viewing him as a president kept in the dark by his subordinates, contrasting with the image of Nixon being in control. Additionally, there was little support for Reagan's impeachment compared to the widespread push for Nixon's.