Posted: 11:40 am PDT
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Richard Nixon announced his resignation on this day in 1974 pic.twitter.com/YdrAJJNai0

— Historical Pics (@HistoricalPics) August 8, 2015

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Watch unbroadcast outtake of President Nixon rehearsing for 5 mins. before resignation speech tonight 1974: http://t.co/LSK90hbFOo

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) August 8, 2015

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President Nixon resigns with this letter, initialed by Secretary of State Kissinger, today 1974: pic.twitter.com/WkhL3pnOrZ

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) August 9, 2015

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According to NARA, the President’s speechwriter, Ray Price, began drafting a resignation speech days before the resignation, as the President agonized over his decision to stay or to go. Speaking for some 16 minutes, Nixon recounted his successes as President, especially in the area of foreign affairs. He explained his departure as a matter of practical politics—he had lost his political base. He did not address the issue of abuse of Presidential power and did not mention the word “impeachment.”

On the morning of August 9, 1974, the day following President Nixon’s televised resignation speech, White House Chief of Staff Alexander Haig presented this letter to President Nixon to sign. The President’s resignation letter is addressed to the Secretary of State, in keeping with a law passed by Congress in 1792. The letter became effective when Secretary of State Henry Kissinger initialed it at 11:35 a.m.

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