why did nixon resign

Richard Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal, a political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the Nixon administration's subsequent cover-up efforts. The release of damaging tape recordings, including the "smoking gun" tape, revealed Nixon's involvement in obstructing justice. This led to a collapse of his political support, with key Republican leaders informing him that he faced almost certain impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate. Faced with the inevitability of removal from office and in the interest of the nation, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974, becoming the only U.S. president to do so. His resignation was effective the next day, August 9, 1974, and he was succeeded by Vice President Gerald Ford.