Why do you think Nixon didn't destroy the Oval Office tapes that incriminated him?

Oval Office tapes that incriminated Nixon weren't destroyed by Nixon because he use it as a protective measure. He was worried that some of his friends in the goverment might later betray him.

Explanation:

June 17th, 1972, five men broke into The Watergate complex and attempted to steal a political information but there hopes were cut shut when they were arrested. By October 1972, the FBI had discovered that the plot was an attempt to by the Nixon's Administration to steal confidential materials belonging to his oppositions. The plot was discover through Oval Office tapes.

Nixon had a habit of recording almost everything that occurred in the White House, which provided investigators with plenty of evidence against him. He was later order by the courts and congress to released tapes, internal memos and other communications.