CAMILLE BOHANNON

   
CAMILLE  BOHANNON      

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.

TIM MAGUIRE

After months of maintaining his innocence, Agnew pleaded no 
contest to a single felony charge of tax evasion and resigned
from office. Nixon replaced him with House Republican leader
Gerald Ford. Agnew spent the remainder of his life quietly,
rarely making public appearances.    
    
    
    
    
   
    
Gerald Ford (center) was sworn in as Vice President. Ford, the longtime
House Minority Leader, was selected as VP by Richard Nixon (far right)
after the resignation of Spiro Agnew.  Ford would become president
eight months later when Nixon himself resigned.

In an evening televised address, President Richard M. Nixon announces
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.