Well, sphinx, I think it goes back to loyalty. I agree, there’s nothing that’s ever come out in 41 years that suggests that Nixon knew of, or approved the burglary. His idiot underlings wanted to destroy the democratic nominee by hook or by crook. How ironic, since Nixon crushed McGovern so handily. He had absolutely NO reason to fear McGovern, but people like G.Gordon Liddy thought that the best way to get rid of ones enemies is by cutting off their heads. Read the book “Will”. Liddy’s philosophy is that when America is threatened, you do everything possible to defend her, even by breaking the law. THAT explains the “reason”. Nixon thought he could cover up those misguided fools who were trying to “help” him. The chips fell down and Nixon took the fall. Literally falling on his sword.
Oh, and sphinx, there is a very tangled web that involves Howard Hughes, big Nixon supporter. The plumbers wanted to break into a safe that might contain incriminating evidence about democrats. Hughes REFUSED to allow it, because he had so many skeletons in his own closet and didn’t want them revealed.