Only one United States president has ever resigned from office: Richard M. Nixon. Across more than two centuries of American governance, 45 individuals have assumed the presidency, but 44 finished their terms through natural completion, electoral defeat, assassination, or death from illness. Nixon stands alone as the sole executive to step down voluntarily before his term expired.
Understanding how many US presidents resigned requires looking past common myths and historical misunderstandings. People often confuse presidential resignations with impeachments, congressional investigations, or voluntary departures from cabinet posts. Yet, the White House has only seen one actual departure driven by impending impeachment and terminal political isolation.
The Historic Resignation of Richard Nixon
On August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon delivered a televised address from the Oval Office to announce his intention to resign the following day. His departure wasn't a sudden impulse. It marked the climax of the Watergate scandal, which began with a botched June 1972 burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
Investigators quickly linked the break-in perpetrators to the Nixon reelection campaign. Rather than cutting ties, the administration orchestrated a sprawling cover-up involving hush money, intelligence agency interference, and obstruction of justice. For two years, congressional committees, investigative journalists, and special prosecutors unraveled the conspiracy.
The Smoking Gun Tape and Impeachment
The political dam broke in July 1974. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in United States v. Nixon that the president had to surrender secret White House audio recordings. Those recordings, including the infamous "Smoking Gun" tape, proved that Nixon had ordered the FBI to halt the Watergate investigation days after the break-in.
Faced with certain impeachment in the House of Representatives and a guaranteed conviction in the Senate, Nixon realized his support had vanished. Key Republican leaders visited the White House to inform him that he lacked the votes to survive a trial. Rather than facing a humiliating Senate conviction and potential removal, Nixon chose to resign. He officially stepped down on August 9, 1974, handing power to Vice President Gerald Ford. You can read more about the official documents from that era via the National Archives.
Presidents Who Came Close to Resigning
While Nixon is the only executive to follow through, several other commanders-in-chief faced intense pressure, health crises, or serious talk of early departure that ultimately didn't result in a resignation.
John Tyler faced a near-rebellion in his own cabinet during the 1840s. After he vetoed bills to establish a national bank—legislation championed by his own party—his entire cabinet resigned en masse in protest, except for Secretary of State Daniel Webster. Congress even entertained early impeachment resolutions against Tyler, but none succeeded.
Andrew Johnson faced formal impeachment in 1868 after violating the Tenure of Office Act. The House voted to impeach him, but the Senate fell a single vote short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction. Johnson finished his term as a weakened lame duck rather than stepping down.
Bill Clinton faced similar pressure during the Monica Lewinsky scandal and subsequent 1998 impeachment by the House. Like Johnson, Clinton chose to fight the charges through the Senate trial, where he was acquitted and remained in office until his term ended naturally in January 2001.
Voluntary Departures and Cabinet Resignations
Confusion often arises because political figures frequently resign from other high-ranking positions. Cabinet secretaries, vice presidents, and members of Congress step down with relative frequency.
For instance, Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned in 1832 to take a seat in the United States Senate, making him the first vice president to leave office early. Spiro Agnew, Richard Nixon's first vice president, resigned in October 1973—not over Watergate, but amid a separate federal investigation into tax evasion and bribery stemming from his time as governor of Maryland. Because Agnew left before Nixon, the nation experienced a unique constitutional transition where Gerald Ford was appointed vice president under the 25th Amendment before ascending to the presidency a year later.
To explore broader trends in executive branch rules and constitutional frameworks, consult the White House Historical Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did any other president try to resign quietly?
No. Every other president who left office early did so because they died in office or, in the case of William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren G. Harding, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, succumbed to sudden illness. Four presidents were assassinated: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy.
What happened to Richard Nixon after he resigned?
Nixon retired to his estate in San Clemente, California. A month after taking office, President Gerald Ford granted Nixon a full, unconditional pardon for any crimes he might have committed against the United States while in office. This controversial move shielded Nixon from criminal prosecution but severely damaged Ford's own political standing.
Can a US president be forced to resign?
The Constitution doesn't contain a mechanism to force a sitting president to resign. Presidents can only be removed through the formal impeachment process in Congress or through the invocation of the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare the president unable to discharge the powers and duties of office.
How does presidential succession work if a president resigns?
When a president resigns, the vice president immediately assumes the office and takes the oath of presidency, as outlined in Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution and later clarified by the 25th Amendment. This happened instantly when Gerald Ford was sworn in minutes after Nixon's resignation took effect.
