Who Was the Only US President to Resign? Learn About Watergate Scandal

Richard Nixon became the 37th President of the United (1969-1974), is remembered as the only US president to resign from office for his involvement in the Watergate affair. Previously, he served as a US Representative, which ended Americans fighting in Vietnam and developed international connections with China and USSR. If you are curious to learn why Nixon was impeached, read the entire blog.

Nixon resigned in 1974, midway between his second term, rather than facing charges for putting efforts to cover up illicit activities of members of his administration in the Watergate scandal.

What Was the Watergate Scandal?

The Watergate Scandal was known as the major political scandal in the United States, which involved the administration of US President Richard Nixon between 1972 to 1974, which led to the withdrawal of Nixon’s presidency.

When Nixon was conducting re-election in 1971, agents were associated with his campaign and broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.

Many members from the Nixon administration knew about the burglary, and Nixon declined to admit his involvement in the secret tapes of White House. Later, it was revealed that the president was also involved in efforts to hide his criminal activity. 

Richard Nixon resigns

The term Watergate was introduced to encompass all clandestine and illegal activities, and the members of the Nixon administration undertook these.

After facing impeachment by Congress, he has to resign from office.

In a Television speech on August 8, 1974, Richard M Nixon revealed his plan to be the first US president to resign.

As a result of his engagement in the Watergate scandal, Nixon faced pressure from the public and Congress to leave the White House.

The next day, Nixon officially resigned his term as the 37th president of the United States. He departed with his family from the White House lawn, expressed farewell with a smile, and raised his arms in a peace salute. He took off in a helicopter to Clement, California. Following, Vice president Gerald Ford was elected as the 38th president of the United States.

Five men, including a security coordinator for President Nixon’s re-election representative, went to jail for illegally wiretapping the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC on June 17, 1972.

Nixon moved from California to New Jersey and worked hard to recover his image by writing books, discussing with Democratic and Republican presidents, and traveling.

On April 22, 1994, at the age of 81, he died. He was suffering from a stroke. Some citizens saw him as a respected elder statesman. Other Americans refused to accept him as a good person after watching his efforts to cover his disgraced criminal activity.