why does the media say "gate" in refering to a scandal?

[J D]

whats gate in referring to a scandal in government or something of that nature

[ketkonen]

After the Watergate scandal involving President Nixon in America.

[crazyem]

it's just one of those random things. The whole Nixon thing happened to take place in the Watergate hotel, so after that if it's scandalous, -gate is added to the end.