Nixon is generally characterised as a deeply insecure man whose disdain for socialising was always apparent in his demeanour, whereas the former British Prime Minister has spent the better half of his career perfecting his superficial charm, essentially serving as the Conservative Party's resident entertainer. And while the two men juxtapose each other in character, it is their voracious political ambition which has resulted in the events of 'Partygate' closely mirroring ‘Watergate’, the most notorious political scandal of the late 20th century.
News outlets instinctively drew parallels between Johnson’s response to the Sue Gray report in the House of Commons and Nixon’s Oval Office address in April 1973. In their speeches, both men attempted to absolve themselves of blame by condemning the events that took place under their leadership, even after they had both publicly denied their involvement. Furthermore, while the failures of Nixon’s administration caused more people to question the actions and motives of the political elite; the actions of Johnson’s government in regards to the lockdown parties showed the sheer arrogance and disregard they had for the general public.
Both leaders were brought down by their egos and thus far Johnson's behaviour seems to be mirroring that of Nixon's post-Watergate. But it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that we haven't seen the last of Boris Johnson in the British political sphere. Whether he follows Nixon’s lead and stays incognito or whether he returns to the public eye, it's inevitable that he'll eventually be back.