Nixon Resigned 30 Years Ago Today

[SoDesuKa]

On August 9th, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first U.S. President to resign his office rather than become the first to be removed via impeachment. The night before he had made one of the most dramatic appearances in television history by announcing his intention to resign.

http://www.super70s.com/Super70s/News/1974/August/9-Nixon_Resigns.asp


Yes, I Am a Crook

[WI_DEM]

1. Ford in his inagural address said:

"Our long national nightmare is over..." I hope that after November 2, 2004 we can say the same thing.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. Expect the media to barely mention it.

That don't want to remind anyone that the Bush admin is Worst Than Watergate

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. I watched that yesterday on CSPAN

Amazing. I have a newfound respect for Nixon after watching his resignation in its entirety. He was saying things in that speech that, if you didn't know better, you would assume was coming from a liberal democrat.

Hell, he even spoke about lifting people out of poverty, guarding against building too many weapons, keeping the peace in the middle east (including calling arabs 'our friends') and making the world a safer place.

And from the way it was written, I'd assume he wrote it himself, which gives me an even greater respect for him. He was truely a unique and very interesting man.

Contrast that with Bush, who's both evil and dull at the same time. Which, I'm sure is a rather hard feat to accomplish.

Oh, and Ford's acceptance speech - BOOOORING. I can see why the guy is generally never spoken of, even though he's the oldest living president. Man, what a dull speaker.

[WI_DEM]

5. actually Ray Price wrote the speech

but Nixon, I'm sure formed it.

[SheilaT]

4. I was working at National Airport

in Washington DC at the time, and I have NEVER seen the airport go so quiet as it did when he was speaking. I believe that airplanes actually did not push back from the gate, so that passengers and crew could listen to the speech. Literally, not a single passenger came up to the counter during that time. All of us agents were in the back room where our TV was, with the door open so we could see if anyone came up. No one did.

All the way through the speech I kept on fearing that he would say he was sticking it out, and it wasn't until he finally said, "Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency" that I breathed a sigh of relief.