Richard M. Nixon's Resignation Speech
Richard M. Nixon's Resignation Speech
B/W film footage of the beginning of Richard M. Nixon's resignation speech, August 8, 1974. Opens with shot of White House exterior, with VO. MS Nixon seated at desk in the Oval Office giving his speech: 'Good evening, this is the 37th time I have spoken to you from this office, where so many decisions have been made that shaped the history of this nation. Each time I have done so to discuss with you some matter that I believe affected the national interest. In all the decisions I have made in my public life I have always tried to do what was best for the nation. Throughout the long and difficult period of Watergate, I have felt that it was my duty to persevere, to make every possible effort to complete the term of office to which you elected me. In the past few days however it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the congress to justify continuing that effort. As long as there was such a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to see the constitutional process through to its conclusion. That to do otherwise would be unfaithful to the spirit of that deliberately difficult process and a dangerously destabilizing precedent...'