Under pressure from Watergate, Nixon resigned 35 years ago today

As shown by the success of the stage and film versions of "Frost/Nixon," the former president never fails to fascinate the American people. Richard Nixon's rise, fall and efforts to rise again made for great drama.

"I have never been a quitter," Nixon says in this address delivered Aug. 8, 1974. But quit he did, saying that he had lost support in Congress and that he was stepping down in the interests of the nation.

Whether one admires Nixon or despises him, few could argue this was his most tragic moment, when he became the first president to resign the nation's highest elected office in disgrace.

-- Steve Padilla

Comments

[Chris]

I was in Europe that day, and listened to his resignation speech broadcast over the radio. That was the first time I was ashamed to be an American. The second was during the last 8 years of the Bush-Cheney Regime, which was much worse and I couldn't even bear to travel abroad.

[RIGOBERTO RAMON RODRIGUEZ RAMIREZ]

THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE MATURE RESIGNATION OF AN EXPERIENCED POLITICIAN AS NIXON AND THE INMATURE DEPOSED PRESIDENT OF HONDURAS MANUEL ZELAYA,THAT EVEN AFTER 125 OUT OF 128 CONGRESSMEN/WOMAN SUSPENDED HIM AS PRESIDENT FOR DISOBEDIENCE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS;NIXON STEP DOWN NOT TO BE AN OBSTACLE TO THE INTEREST OF THE USA AND THE CONSTITUTION,BUT ZELAYA INSTEAD AFTER LOSING THE 99% BASE SUPPORT IN CONGRESS HAS LIED AND FALSELY ACCUSED THE NEW SECOND DEGREE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF HONDURAS MR R.MICHELETI BAIN OF A COUP INSTEAD WHAT HAPPENED IN REALITY WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS TO CHANGE GUARDS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL POSITION.NIXON HONORS THE USA PEOPLE:CONGRESS AND THE CONSTITUTION,ZELAYA DISHONOR THE CONGRESS AND THE CONSTITUTION..TO OUR SURPRISE; OF THE AMERICANS OF LATIN HERITAGE THE STATE DEPT INITIALLY SUPPORTED ZELAYA REINSTATEMENT IN POWER AGAINST THE SOVEREIGN POWERS OF THE HONDURAS CONGRESS,WITHOUT EVEN TRACED THE EVENTS THAT CONCLUDE WITH THE OVERTHROW OF ZELAYA IN A LEGAL PROCESS ,IS IT NOT A FALSE AND WRONG APPROACH BY THE STATE DEPT TO HAVE A POSITION WITHOUT THE REAL FACTS THAT SUPPORTS SUCH MOVE!!LET HISTORY JUDGE THEIR ACTIONS.THANK YOU

[cody mccall]

His leaving wasn't 'tragic', just overdue. What's 'tragic' is that he was elected at all. Considering some of the detritus that has occupied the Oval Office, it's amazing this country is still a functioning democracy.

[peterclarke]

With American Politicians taking a vacation, the news media in the USA is covering up the most illegal activities of an American President since Richard Nixon.

President Obama and his administrations illegal act of gathering and soliciting emails and conversations about information from one citizen concerning another American citizen is breaking the 1974 privacy act and the Constitution.

As always the pro and biased USA main stream media is no where to be found these days when it comes to reporting facts or informing the public about Obama’s illegal and unconstitutional acts. For them all criticism about Obama and his policies are labelled as racist! Yet, the only anti-white remarks are emanating directly from and within the white house.

Will this attempt against the people of America, to erode our civil liberties, which has been orchestrated from the white house NOT be challenged in our courts of Law? It is time for criminal charges to be laid in a court of law against Obama, his administration and his unelected gang of czars for these unconstitutional acts against the American people.

Why have elected Senators and Congress members NOT spoken out against this abuse of power and illegal act by the white house. Seems they tend to represent only their own self interests and not that of the American people or the constitution?

Time for Congress and the Senate to do their job of representing the people by holding hearings on the possible impeachment of this President for such illegal activities which are clearly in violation of the constitution and the 1974 privacy act. Where is the appointment of an independent prosecutor to investigate such abuse of power allegations?

[David Theiss]

This was one of the greatest days of my life and I'll never forget if for as long as I live. The memory of it almost offsets the horrible experience of the last eight years--almost.