Watergate salad took off in popularity during and after the presidential scandal which shares the same name. However, the Denver Post article does not verify this rumor, noting like most sources that the origins of the name are obscure.
The Watergate salad gained fame during and after the Watergate scandal, which shares the same name.  However, the Denver Post article does not support the claim that the salad's popularity is directly linked to the political event. The article notes that the origins of the dish's name are unknown.