Which U.S. president resigned from the presidency due to the Watergate scandal?

Which U.S. president resigned from the presidency due to the Watergate scandal?

• A. Richard Nixon
• B. George Washington
• C. Lyndon B. Johnson
• D. James Madison

Answer: (A)

The key idea is understanding what happened when a president faced serious scandal and the consequences that followed. Richard Nixon is the one who resigned in August 1974 after the Watergate break-in and the ensuing cover-up investigations exposed his involvement and the likelihood of impeachment. Facing almost certain removal by Congress, he chose to step down, and Vice President Gerald Ford moved into the presidency. This makes him unique in U.S. history for resigning from the presidency due to a scandal tied to Watergate. The other figures listed did not resign over Watergate or in similar circumstances: Washington left after his two-term presidency as a voluntary transition, Johnson finished his term after choosing not to seek re-election, and Madison served earlier and did not resign under scandal.

The key idea is understanding what happened when a president faced serious scandal and the consequences that followed. Richard Nixon is the one who resigned in August 1974 after the Watergate break-in and the ensuing cover-up investigations exposed his involvement and the likelihood of impeachment. Facing almost certain removal by Congress, he chose to step down, and Vice President Gerald Ford moved into the presidency. This makes him unique in U.S. history for resigning from the presidency due to a scandal tied to Watergate. The other figures listed did not resign over Watergate or in similar circumstances: Washington left after his two-term presidency as a voluntary transition, Johnson finished his term after choosing not to seek re-election, and Madison served earlier and did not resign under scandal.