Richard Nixon announced his resignation from the presidency on live television, marking a pivotal moment in American political history. His decision was primarily a response to the Watergate scandal, which involved a series of illegal activities by members of his administration and a subsequent cover-up attempt. This scandal had escalated over the years, leading to widespread public outrage, damaging revelations, and a risk of impeachment that threatened to remove him from office. Nixon's resignation was effective at noon the following day, and he became the first sitting president in U.S. history to resign. Following his departure, Gerald Ford, who had been serving as the Vice President, was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States. His ascension to the presidency was notable, as he had only recently taken over the vice presidency after Spiro Agnew's resignation amidst his own scandal. Ford's first official act as president was to grant Nixon a full pardon for any offenses committed while in office, a decision that would later cause significant controversy and political fallout.