Frank Wills was the security guard best known for his role in foiling the June 17, 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee inside the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.

Wills worked during that time as private security guard at the Watergate Office building when he noticed duct tape on one of the door locks while making rounds.

Wills removed the tape and continued on thinking not too much about the duct tape, only that maybe the maintenance crew put it there to keep the doors from locking. However, as he continued to make rounds,  he discovered the tape again over other locks. Wills could have ignored it, but instead, he called the police, which led to the arrest of five men in the biggest Washington scandal in history.

Because of his instinct, President Richard Nixon resigned and several administrators in the White House were indicted and convicted. After his exposure, the life of Frank Wills changed was changed forever. He quit his job as a security guard when he did not receive a raise for his huge discovery. Soon after Watergate, Wills’ name faded from the headlines. He gave $200 speeches or interviews whenever an anniversary of Watergate rolled around, but he would never profit.

sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/12/22/the-post-and-the-forgotten-security-guard-who-discovered-the-watergate-break-in/?utm_term=.fbdbb652c79a