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.”