3 ▁determined ▁that ▁the ▁t ape ▁had ▁been ▁er ased ▁in ▁several ▁segments — at ▁least ▁five , ▁and ▁perhaps ▁as ▁many ▁as ▁nine . ▁ ▁Final ▁investig ations ▁and ▁res ignation ▁ ▁N ixon ' s ▁position ▁was ▁becoming ▁increasing ly ▁prec ari ous . ▁On ▁February ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁approved ▁ ▁giving ▁the ▁Jud ici ary ▁Committee ▁authority ▁to ▁investigate ▁im pe achment ▁of ▁the ▁President . ▁On ▁July ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁the ▁House ▁Jud ici ary ▁Committee ▁voted ▁ 2 7 - to - 1 1 ▁to ▁recommend ▁the ▁first ▁article ▁of ▁im pe achment ▁against ▁the ▁president : ▁obst ruction ▁of ▁justice . ▁The ▁Committee ▁recommended ▁the ▁second ▁article , ▁ab use ▁of ▁power , ▁on ▁July ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 1 9 7 4 . ▁The ▁next ▁day , ▁on ▁July ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁the ▁Committee ▁recommended ▁the ▁third ▁article : ▁cont empt ▁of ▁Congress . ▁On ▁August ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁the ▁House ▁author ized ▁the ▁printing ▁of ▁the ▁Committee ▁report ▁H . ▁Rep . ▁ 9 3 – 1 3 0 5 , ▁which ▁included ▁the ▁text ▁of ▁the ▁resolution ▁im pe aching ▁N ixon ▁and ▁set ▁forth ▁articles ▁of ▁im pe achment ▁against ▁him . ▁ ▁" Sm oking ▁Gun " ▁t ape ▁ ▁On ▁August ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 7 4