Presidential resignation

The Constitution (Article 2, Section 1) specifies that if the President resigns, the office of President devolves on the Vice President. The 25th Amendment states that in case of resignation, the Vice President “shall become President.”

The mechanisms for a Presidential resignation are as follows: The President signs a letter, addressed to the secretary of state, specifying the time at which resignation from the office becomes effective. The Vice President is notified by the secretary of state and takes the oath of office at the designated time.

Only one President has ever resigned. Richard Nixon resigned at noon on August 9, 1974, to avoid impeachment by the House of Representatives for high crimes and misdemeanors for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. He was succeeded by Gerald Ford, who took the oath in a ceremony at the Capitol.

(1973–74)

See also Ford, Gerald, R.; Nixon, Richard M.; Secretary of state; Succession to the Presidency; Watergate investigation