Richard Nixon is the only president to resign as the nation's chief executive. Facing charges of misconduct in office for his involvement in the Watergate scandal, Nixon chose to resign rather than undergo a lengthy impeachment trial. (Impeachment is the means by which an official is charged with a crime and possibly removed from office). The Watergate scandal arose from the June 1972 break-in of the Democratic Party's national headquarters at the Watergate apartment and office complex in Washington, D.C. The burglars were connected with members of the inner circle of President Nixon's administration.

The scandal brought a shocking downfall to a man who had represented his political party on the national ballot on five occasions—twice (1952 and 1956) as vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969; see entry in volume 4), and three times as the Republican presidential nominee (1960, 1968, and 1972). The scandal also overshadowed President Nixon's...