Watergate Forces Nixon to Resign - HISTORY

In this History Rocks the 70's video, brought to you by the History Channel, learn about special investigator Archibald Cox's quest to investigate the Watergate cover-up. Nixon tries to get Cox fired several times. He asks Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General Ruckelshaus; both refuse and resign.

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A secretly recorded conversation between President Richard Nixon and his aide H.R. Haldeman on June 23, 1972, reveals the president's involvement in the Watergate break-ins and cover-up. During the conversation, which became known as the "Smoking Gun," Nixon and Haldeman discuss telling Deputy CIA Director Vernon Walters to interfere with FBI Acting Director Pat Gray's investigation. They also mention Mark Felt, then an FBI deputy, who 30 years later revealed himself to be the Watergate whistle blower known as Deep Throat.

Richard Nixon's personality and character issues may have led to his involvement in the Watergate scandal.

On March 10, 1970, President Richard Nixon records a memorandum to his aide H.R. Haldeman asking him to set up a special group to keep tabs on Nixon's opponents.

On this day in 1974, on 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."On this day in 1974, on 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."On this day in 1974, on 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."

On August 9, 1974, President Richard Nixon delivers a farewell speech to his staff in the East Room of the White House. After mounting evidence in the Watergate trial revealed him to be guilty of obstruction of justice and abuse of power, Nixon resigned from the presidency of the United States.

House Judiciary Committee member Lawrence Hogan gives his perspective on the impeachment of Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal.

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