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HISTORY
From Nixon to Trump…
Forty years ago, a President resigned in disgrace
Why the forced resignation of Richard Nixon was so important
Back on August 8, 1974 (50 years ago), my parents made my brother and I watch President Richard Nixon resign as President of the United States. Nixon was headed for certain impeachment after his involvement in the Republican Party’s attempted bugging of the Democratic Party’s office in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C.
Nixon’s henchmen were caught and arrested and eventually the scheme was traced back to Nixon and his administration. Nixon was directly involved in the coverup and a legion of his associates and advisors also were implicated. Many went to prison; many were kicked out of politics forever.
After Nixon spelled out the reasons why he had to resign, he stated the words everyone including myself remember vividly hearing on my parent’s Black and White television:
“Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.”
Believe it or not, but that moment forever shaped my view of the country of my birth and it should shape yours. I came to believe that despite the criminality and corruption…
