--- ---  # See Richard Nixon's Resignation Speech—and What Happened Right After ## Video: Watch: The Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon in TIME Covers [Watch (HLS stream): Watch: The Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon in TIME Covers](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/3GFNMs2U.m3u8) (2:58)  _Published 2014-08-06_  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Jun 15, 2015 4:00 PM UTC ![Richard M. Nixon \[Misc.\]](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt68c238a10bb3b7d7/6988545a35ba6fc991c0dbb2/nixon1.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2) TV image of Pres. Richard M. Nixon announcing his resignation in speech from the Oval Office. TV image of Pres. Richard M. Nixon announcing his resignation in speech from the Oval Office.Gjon Mili—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Jun 15, 2015 4:00 PM UTC Looking back, there’s a certain air of inevitability around Richard Nixon’s resignation—we know about Watergate, we know about the impeachment trial, we can’t see how it could have played out any other way. But for those watching when Nixon addressed the nation on Aug. 8, 1974, it was impossible to imagine exactly how it would play out. As shown in this exclusive clip from the upcoming episode of CNN’s documentary series [_The Seventies_](http://www.cnn.com/shows/the-seventies), airing Thursday at 9:oo p.m., the only presidential resignation in the nation’s history was a grim affair. After everything that had happened, his departure was seen as evidence of justice and he managed to present a calm face—at least to the public, as TIME reported the following week: --- > “” --- **_Read more about Nixon’s resignation, from 1974, here in the TIME Vault:_** [Exit Nixon](http://time.com/vault/issue/1974-08-19/page/21/) ### Richard Nixon Has His Tie Adjusted, and Likes It  Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt adjusts Richard Nixon's tie during the 1960 presidential campaign. 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