Few moments in American history land with the weight of a president saying goodbye to the nation. When Richard Nixon faced cameras on August 8, 1974, he didn’t just resign an office — he broke a 200-year run of presidents finishing their terms.
Presidency term: 1969–1974 · Political party: Republican · Born: January 9, 1913 · Died: April 22, 1994 · Resignation reason: Watergate scandal
Quick snapshot
- Watergate break-in: June 17, 1972 (AP News)
- Saturday Night Massacre: October 20, 1973 (PBS NewsHour)
- Supreme Court orders tapes released: July 24, 1974 (UC Berkeley Library)
- Nixon resigns: August 8, 1974 (PBS NewsHour)
- June 17, 1972 — Break-in at DNC headquarters (U.S. Senate)
- May 1973 — Senate Watergate hearings begin (U.S. Senate)
- August 8, 1974 — Nixon televises resignation (U.S. Senate)
- September 8, 1974 — Ford issues pardon (AP News)
- Post-resignation accountability norms permanently shifted (GIJN Investigative Impact)
- Investigative journalism became a standard check on executive misconduct (GIJN Investigative Impact)
- New ethics and transparency laws emerged from Watergate reforms (GIJN Investigative Impact)
Six facts from the record, one pattern: Nixon’s life spans a steep arc from small-town California to the presidency and a forced exit.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Milhous Nixon |
| Born | January 9, 1913, Yorba Linda, California |
| Died | April 22, 1994, New York City, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Presidency | January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 |
| Vice president | Spiro Agnew (1969–1973), Gerald Ford (1973–1974) |
What was Richard Nixon accused of doing?
Nixon didn’t just face one charge — the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment, making him the first president in 106 years to face formal articles.
Obstruction of justice
- Nixon directed aides to impede the FBI investigation into the Watergate break-in, according to the articles of impeachment approved by the House Judiciary Committee (U.S. Senate).
- The “smoking gun” tape of June 23, 1972 recorded him ordering the CIA to ask the FBI to halt its probe (PBS NewsHour).
Abuse of power
- Nixon misused federal agencies — including the IRS and the Secret Service — to target political opponents and journalists (Wikipedia).
- He authorized a covert program of wiretaps and surveillance against administration critics.
Contempt of Congress
- Nixon refused to comply with subpoenas for the Oval Office tapes, leading the Judiciary Committee to cite him for contempt (PBS NewsHour).
- The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in United States v. Nixon (1974) that executive privilege did not protect the tapes (UC Berkeley Library).
The implication: three separate branches of government — Congress, the courts, and the press — converged on the same conclusion, a rare alignment in constitutional history.
What exactly happened at Watergate?
The break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters
- Five men broke into the Watergate complex on June 17, 1972, targeting the DNC offices (AP News).
- The burglars were linked to Nixon’s reelection campaign, the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP).
- A security guard named Frank Wills noticed tape on a stairwell door latch and called police, triggering the arrests.
The cover-up and the secret slush fund
- Nixon’s campaign maintained a secret fund used to pay the burglars for silence and legal fees, as detailed in John Dean’s testimony before the Senate committee (U.S. Senate).
- Dean, the White House counsel, testified in June 1973 that Nixon was directly involved in the cover-up from its earliest days.
The Saturday Night Massacre
- On October 20, 1973, Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who had subpoenaed the tapes (PBS NewsHour).
- Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resigned rather than carry out the order; Solicitor General Robert Bork finally fired Cox.
The Supreme Court ruling and the release of the tapes
- The Supreme Court ruled 8–0 in United States v. Nixon on July 24, 1974, ordering the president to release the tapes (UC Berkeley Library).
- The June 23, 1972 tape — the “smoking gun” — proved Nixon had orchestrated the cover-up six days after the break-in.
The pattern: each attempt to conceal the truth tightened the legal and public pressure on Nixon until resignation became the only exit.
The Saturday Night Massacre cost Nixon his own attorney general and deputy — two loyalists chose principle over presidential orders, a moment that shifted bipartisan support against him.
What is Richard Nixon famous for?
First U.S. president to resign from office
- Nixon announced his resignation on August 8, 1974, effective at noon on August 9, making him the only president to leave the office early (PBS NewsHour).
- His farewell speech included the line: “I have never been a quitter” (National Archives).
Opening relations with China (1972)
- Nixon visited China in February 1972, the first U.S. president to do so, ending decades of diplomatic isolation (Wikipedia).
- The Shanghai Communiqué laid the groundwork for normalized U.S.-China relations.
Establishing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Nixon signed the Clean Air Act of 1970 and created the EPA via executive order in December 1970.
- He also signed the National Environmental Policy Act, requiring environmental impact statements for federal projects.
Ending the draft and shifting to an all-volunteer military
- Nixon fulfilled a campaign promise by ending conscription in 1973, transitioning to an all-volunteer force.
- The Gates Commission, which he appointed, recommended the shift in 1970.
The trade-off: Nixon’s foreign-policy and domestic achievements are often overshadowed by the scandal that ended his presidency, creating a legacy that scholars still debate.
Who did Nixon blame for Watergate?
Blaming subordinates and his chief of staff H.R. Haldeman
- Nixon initially characterized the break-in as a rogue operation by low-level CREEP staff, distancing himself from direct responsibility (AP News).
- He publicly stated on television that he had not been involved in the cover-up.
Blaming John Ehrlichman and John Dean
- Nixon’s inner circle — Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Dean — took much of the public blame as the Senate hearings unfolded (U.S. Senate).
- Dean’s testimony directly contradicted Nixon’s claims, revealing the president’s early involvement in the cover-up.
The ‘smoking gun’ tape showing Nixon orchestrating the cover-up
- The June 23, 1972 tape captured Nixon instructing Haldeman to have the CIA tell the FBI to back off the investigation (PBS NewsHour).
- Once released, the tape collapsed Nixon’s remaining support; even his most loyal congressional allies told him to resign.
Why this matters: the blame-shifting strategy worked for 26 months, but the tapes proved that the cover-up reached directly into the Oval Office.
What were Nixon’s last words?
Reported last words to his nurse before his death
- Nixon’s final words were reportedly spoken to a nurse: “I hope I helped people” (AP News).
- The exact phrasing is disputed among biographers and those present at his bedside.
His farewell speech to White House staff on August 9, 1974
- In his farewell address to staff, Nixon said: “Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself” (PBS NewsHour).
- He died on April 22, 1994, at age 81 in New York City due to complications from a stroke.
The catch: Nixon’s last public words were about hatred and self-destruction — themes that mirrored the scandal that consumed his presidency.
Which president cried and quit?
Nixon’s emotional resignation speech
- Nixon cried during his farewell speech to White House staff on August 9, 1974, visibly emotional as he reflected on his family and his career (PBS NewsHour).
- The speech was unscripted in parts; Nixon spoke without notes for several minutes about his parents and his humble beginnings.
Historical context of presidential resignations
- Nixon remains the only U.S. president to resign from office (Wikipedia).
- No other president has quit mid-term; only Nixon has left the White House before completing his elected term.
The paradox: a president who spent his career advocating toughness and discipline ended his tenure in tears, unable to finish the job.
What did Richard Nixon do after resigning?
Pardon by President Gerald Ford
- Gerald Ford granted Nixon a full pardon on September 8, 1974, citing a desire to heal the nation (AP News).
- Ford stated: “My conscience tells me clearly and certainly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that continue to reopen a chapter that is closed.”
Post-presidency writing and rehabilitation
- Nixon wrote several books, including RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon (1978) and Leaders (1982), working to reframe his legacy.
- He traveled internationally and gave private advice to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Death on April 22, 1994
- Nixon died at age 81 at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital from complications of a stroke (AP News).
- President Bill Clinton delivered a eulogy at his state funeral, noting that Nixon’s foreign policy achievements deserved remembrance alongside his downfall.
The implication: Nixon spent 20 years trying to outrun Watergate, but the pardon ensured he never faced a trial — leaving the full legal judgment to history.
Timeline of key events
- January 9, 1913 — Born in Yorba Linda, California
- 1953–1961 — Served as Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower
- January 20, 1969 — Inaugurated as 37th President
- June 17, 1972 — Watergate break-in (AP News)
- May 1973 — Senate Watergate Committee hearings begin (U.S. Senate)
- October 20, 1973 — Saturday Night Massacre (PBS NewsHour)
- July 24, 1974 — Supreme Court orders release of tapes (UC Berkeley Library)
- August 8, 1974 — Nixon announces resignation (PBS NewsHour)
- September 8, 1974 — Ford grants pardon (AP News)
- April 22, 1994 — Nixon dies at age 81 in New York City
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974, effective the next day (PBS NewsHour)
- The Watergate break-in occurred on June 17, 1972 (AP News)
- The “smoking gun” tape proves Nixon orchestrated the cover-up (PBS NewsHour)
- Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon on September 8, 1974 (AP News)
- Nixon died on April 22, 1994 (AP News)
What’s unclear
- Exact wording of Nixon’s last words to his nurse is disputed
- Whether Nixon knew about the break-in before it occurred is still debated by historians
- The full extent of CIA involvement in the cover-up remains partially classified
- The degree of Ford’s prior coordination with Nixon’s team on the pardon timing is not fully documented
Key voices on the Nixon presidency
“Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.”
— Richard Nixon, farewell address to White House staff, August 9, 1974 (PBS NewsHour)
“My conscience tells me clearly and certainly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that continue to reopen a chapter that is closed.”
— President Gerald Ford, pardon proclamation, September 8, 1974 (AP News)
“Whether ours shall continue to be a government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people to decide.”
— Special prosecutor Archibald Cox, statement after the Saturday Night Massacre, October 1973 (PBS NewsHour)
The Watergate scandal did more than end one presidency. It forced a permanent shift in how the press, Congress, and the courts police executive power, and it created a template for accountability that every subsequent administration has been measured against. For the American public, the lesson was stark: a president can be brought to account not by revolution, but by the steady application of reporting, subpoenas, and the rule of law.
Related reading: **Code of Conduct: Key Principles, Examples & Importance** · **Ben Roberts-Smith: War Crimes Charges & Appeal Timeline**
For a deeper look at the events that led to his resignation, explore Richard Nixons Watergate scandal and its lasting impact on American politics.
Frequently asked questions
What was Richard Nixon’s relationship with China?
Nixon visited China in February 1972, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. His trip ended 25 years of diplomatic isolation and led to the Shanghai Communiqué, which established a framework for normalized relations (Wikipedia).
Did Richard Nixon have any scandals before Watergate?
Yes. Nixon’s political career included the “Checkers speech” in 1952, when he denied misuse of campaign funds, and accusations of dirty tricks in his 1962 California gubernatorial race and his 1968 presidential campaign.
What happened to the Nixon tapes after his resignation?
The tapes were seized by the government and eventually transferred to the National Archives. By 2013, the complete set was declassified and made publicly available (National Archives).
How was Richard Nixon’s presidency rated by historians?
Historians consistently rank Nixon in the lower third of U.S. presidents due to Watergate, though his foreign-policy achievements — especially the opening to China and détente with the USSR — earn moderate to high marks (Wikipedia).
What were Richard Nixon’s accomplishments as president?
He opened relations with China, signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the USSR, created the EPA, signed the Clean Air Act of 1970, ended the military draft, and oversaw the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Did Richard Nixon serve in the military?
Yes. Nixon served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1946, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. He served in the South Pacific and worked on logistics in the Naval Air Transport Command.
Where is Richard Nixon buried?
Nixon is buried at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California, his birthplace, alongside his wife Pat Nixon.
Andrew Ellis leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Oz Insightlab.