In that tape, Nixon agrees that administration officials should approach Richard Helms, Director of the CIA, and Vernon A. Walters, Deputy Director, and ask them to request L. Patrick Gray, Acting Director of the FBI, to halt the Bureau's investigation into the Watergate break-in on the grounds that it was a national security matter. In so agreeing, Nixon had entered into a criminal conspiracy whose goal was the obstruction of justice — a federal offense, and an impeachable offense.

Question

In that tape, Nixon agrees that administration officials should approach Richard Helms, Director of the CIA, and Vernon A. Walters, Deputy Director, and ask them to request L. Patrick Gray, Acting Director of the FBI, to halt the Bureau's investigation into the Watergate break-in on the grounds that it was a national security matter. In so agreeing, Nixon had entered into a criminal conspiracy whose goal was the obstruction of justice — a federal offense, and an impeachable offense.

How was halting the Bureau's investigation into the Watergate break-in a federal offense?

Also, why did people want the watergate tapes? Because it contained conversations between Nixon and other White House members?

I'm confused...

Answer 1

http://www.google.com/search?q=nixon+and+watergate&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGGL_en___US321

No -- the tapes were underhanded means for the folks who wanted to get Nixon re-elected -- they "bugged" the Democrat National Committee's headquarters (an illegal act) at the Watergate Hotel. Read the articles in those search results carefully.