The cake is similar to Watergate Salad which is made with pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, whipped topping, crushed pecans, and marshmallows. There are two possibilities of how "Watergate" landed in the name that unites both dishes, though no one knows for sure. The first possibility is that the Watergate Salad recipe was developed by the chef at the Watergate Hotel - yes, that one that made the news thanks to President Richard Nixon. According to Southern Living, the other explanation is that "the cake version has icing to 'cover up' any mistakes and, like politics, is chock full of nuts."