Fifty Years Ago
It was on this date, August 9th, in 1974 that a one-of-a-kind occurrence took place…an American president resigned from office.
President Richard Nixon told the world of his plans in a nationally-televised address from the Oval Office the night before. In a time before cable news channels or the internet, you could only see the speech on one of the then-three networks—CBS, ABC, and NBC. And we all watched.
Fifty years ago, we saw the President and First Lady leave the White House for a helicopter waiting on the White House grounds. Nixon gave a final defiant wave and “V for victory” salute, the one that had been his trademark, wearing a broad grin on his face. As Air Force One made its way to California, the clock struck noon in Washington…and the President became the Former President. Soon after, Gerald Ford took the oath of office in the East Room of the White House.
Ford became the only person to hold the presidency who had never been elected on a national ticket; he had been confirmed as vice president by the Congress when Spiro Agnew resigned, and elevated to the presidency when Nixon resigned.
The speech he gave after taking the oath was brief—only 850 words. He began by noting, “I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers.” That was also the speech where he famously said, “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.”
Fifty years ago today. And now, a half-century later, we wonder if by January 20, 2025, Nixon will still be the only president to leave office early. Our current political season has already held plenty of surprises, and I trust we’ve not seen the last one.
