Nearly four decades have passed since the discovery of a secret White House tape recording system helped bring down President Richard Nixon’s administration.

Raleigh attorney Eugene Boyce, who was assistant chief counsel for the congressional committee that made the discovery, recounted the story today during a presentation to the John Locke Foundation’s Shaftesbury Socierty. In the video clip below, Boyce explains the recordings’ significance.

2:30 p.m. update: Click play below to watch the full 55:49 event.

You’ll find other John Locke Foundation video presentations here.