Survey son about Watergate, say (7)
I believe the answer is:
scandal
'watergate say' is the definition.
(I know that Watergate scandal is a scandal)
'survey son about' is the wordplay.
'survey' becomes 'scan' (I've seen this in another clue).
'son' becomes 'lad' (lad can mean a boy or son).
'about' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'lad' written backwards gives 'dal'.
'scan'+'dal'='SCANDAL'
(Other definitions for scandal that I've seen before include "content of 3 [RED TOPS]?" , "Event causing public outrage" , "subject for play school" , "Shock" , "Rumour, gossip" .)