“I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as president, I must put the interest of America first.”
That was President Richard Nixon announcing his resignation, 40 years ago on August 8, 1974.
We’ve left the serious historical look-back in the hands of our colleagues around msnbc, so we’re going to try to keep it light with today’s “5 Things” about our 37th president…
1. A look at his names: “Tricky Dick,” for instance–he earned that one running for California Senate in 1950. Then there’s “Milhous,” his middle name which was taken from his mother’s maiden name; and, of course, “Richard,” after King Richard I, better known as Richard the Lionheart.
2. Nixon was quite musical, and played five instruments: piano, saxophone, clarinet, accordion and violin. After leaving the White House, he also gave some thought to rap music. On an audio tape at the Nixon Library, the former president can be heard saying, ”I have often thought that if there had been a good rap group around in those days, I might have chosen a career in music instead of politics.”
Here Richard Nixon with daughters, son-in-law & dog, day before resignation speech, 40 years ago this week: #Atkins pic.twitter.com/juNDwyNFLL









