There has been only one president to resign from office. That president was Richard Nixon on Aug. 9, 1974. Minutes after his resignation, Vice President Gerald R. Ford was sworn into office as the 37th president of the United States.
Nixon's resignation can be largely attributed to the clandestine and illegal activities his administration undertook during his presidency. The activities were brought to light when members of his administration were caught breaking into the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. This scandal, named the Watergate scandal, resulted in the loss of almost all of his political support and the near-certainty of his impeachment. As a result, Nixon took to radio and television and announced his resignation.
