WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (News Bureau) – Richard Milhous Nixon, his political power destroyed by the Watergate scandal, announced tonight that he was resigning as 37th President of the United States.
In an emotion-filled, nationally televised speech, the culmination of weeks and months of pressure, Nixon said Vice President Ford would be sworn to succeed him at noon tomorrow. “The leadership of America will be in good hands,” Nixon said, his voice wavering.
The President referred only briefly to the political scandal that shattered his administration, brought him to the brink of certain impeachment and removal from office, and ultimately forced him to become the first American President to quit his post before the end of his term.
Admitting no personal involvement in Watergate-related crimes – conceding only some “wrong judgements” – the chief executive declared:
“I would have preferred to carry through to the finish, whatever the personal agony it would have involved, and my family unanimously urged me to do so. But the interest of the nation must always come before any personal considerations.”
Nixon concluded the 7-minute address with no good night, just a prayer:
“May God’s grace be with you all in the days ahead.” With this Nixon ended his career in American politics. He also ended an unprecedented constitutional crisis that had divided the nation and dangerously slowed the work of government.
