Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, was forced to resign in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal. Watergate was a political scandal that occurred in the early 1970s, involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C.

The scandal began on June 17, 1972, when five men were arrested for breaking into the DNC headquarters. It was later revealed that the break-in was orchestrated by members of the Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP), which was working for Nixon's re-election campaign.

As the investigation progressed, it was discovered that the Nixon administration had engaged in various illegal activities, including the cover-up of the break-in and the abuse of power. This revelation led to widespread public outrage and calls for Nixon's impeachment.

The impeachment process began in February 1974, with the House Judiciary Committee approving articles of impeachment against Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. However, before the articles could be voted on by the full House of Representatives, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974.

Nixon's resignation marked the first and only time in American history that a President has been forced to resign from office. He was succeeded by his Vice President, Gerald Ford, who became the 38th President of the United States.

The Watergate scandal had a profound impact on American politics and the public's trust in government. It led to increased scrutiny of presidential powers and the establishment of reforms to prevent future abuses of power.

In conclusion, Richard Nixon was the US President who was forced to resign in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal. The scandal exposed corruption within the Nixon administration and led to a significant shift in American politics.

Sign Up