Final answer:
After the revelation of the White House tapes, Nixon attempted to use executive privilege and selectively released tapes, leading to increased suspicion and demands for all tapes. The Saturday Night Massacre and subsequent legal battles ultimately forced Nixon to release the tapes, proving his role in the Watergate scandal and leading to his resignation.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the secret of the White House tapes was revealed to the public, President Richard Nixon first tried to protect himself by releasing selected tapes, which only led to more suspicion as they appeared tampered. This event was referred to as the Watergate scandal. It sparked a legal and constitutional battle that led to a decrease in public trust in Nixon, whose approval ratings plummeted. He attempted to use executive privilege to avoid turning over all the tapes but faced immense pressure to do so. The situation escalated with the Saturday Night Massacre, where Nixon ordered the firing of the special prosecutor investigating him, leading to high-profile resignations within the Justice Department.
As investigations continued, it became clear that Nixon had some connection to the Watergate break-in. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually ordered him to release the actual tapes, not just transcripts. One tape showed that he had been informed of White House involvement in the Watergate break-in shortly after it happened. With his complicity evident and facing near-certain impeachment and removal from office, Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974.