The U.S. president during the Watergate scandal was Richard Nixon. His administration faced intense scrutiny following a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and subsequent cover-up attempts. The scandal significantly eroded public trust in the federal government and led to Nixon's resignation in 1974, making him the first president to do so. The Watergate scandal highlighted issues of political corruption and abuses of power, resulting in increased calls for transparency in governance.