Community Corner

This Day in History: Nixon Resigns the Presidency; Sharon Tate Murdered

The 37th President of the United States resigned 37 years ago today; Sharon Tate and others discovered slain on same day in 1969.

Pres. Richard Nixon Resigns

Effective at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 1974, Pres. Richard Nixon officially resigned as president of the United States after being under fire from the Watergate scandal.

Minutes later Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th president in the East Room of the White House. Nixon was the first president to resign from office and was pardoned by Ford of any wrongdoing in the Watergate affair.

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This same day in 2011 marks the 37th anniversary of the 37th president's resignation. Coincidentally, Nixon began his Aug. 8, 1974 resignation speech with, "This is the 37th time I have spoken to you from this office."

To see Nixon's resignation speech, click "play" on the video above.

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Sharon Tate Murdered

Actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, along with four other people murdered at her Bel Air home on Aug. 9, 1969. They were found shortly after being killed by a suspicious neighbor who thought she heard gunshots.

Cult leader Charles Manson and some of his followers were later convicted of the brutal killings.

The above information was taken from the History Channel’s website, History.com and TrueTV.com.


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