In an evening televised address on August 8, 1974, President
Richard M. Nixon announced his intention to become the first
president in American history to resign. With impeachment
proceedings underway against him for his involvement in the
Watergate affair, Nixon was finally bowing to pressure from
the public and Congress to leave the White House. 

“By taking this action,” he said in a solemn address from the
Oval Office, “I hope that I will have hastened the start of the
process of healing which is so desperately needed in America.”

Just before noon the next day, Nixon officially ended his term
as the 37th president of the United States. Before departing
with his family in a helicopter from the White House lawn, he
smiled farewell and enigmatically raised his arms in a victory
or peace salute. The helicopter door was then closed, and the
Nixon family began their journey home to San Clemente,
California. Minutes later, Vice President Gerald R. Ford was
sworn in as the 38th president of the United States in the East
Room of the White House.