This is probably interesting only to absolute history fanatics and political geeks — like me, of course — but this really impacted my life.
I was 14 and vacationing in Ocean City MD with my parents and my grandparents during that momentous week in 1974.
On the evening of 8/9/74, I chose to stay in the room as the four adults went out for a late dinner… because I wanted to watch this speech live.
I remember sitting on the edge of the motel room bed… fixedly staring at the little TV screen. When I heard President Nixon say, “Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow,” I actually let out a cheer of victory. Yes, it was a dark blot on our nation’s history… but the removal of this man from office was not a moment for sadness. Rather, it was the first step toward a healing process.
Today, when we hear so many weak-minded people toss around the notion of impeaching President Barack Obama… I wish that those people would take a moment to understand: impeachment is a serious step to be taken only when there is justification due to actual wrongdoing, not because you just don’t like the guy.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/spc/character/links/nixon_speech.html
The Nonfiction Section 