Today in History: It's Nixon's Day

A depiction of Robert. E. Lee

It's not 37th President of the United States President Richard Nixon's birthday, though it is an important day in his presidential career. Though it's a "big" day in Nixon's presidency, I must go in chronological order and first include Confederate General Robert E. Lee's resignation on this day in 1863. The famed general that Abraham Lincoln wished to recruit for the Union Army resigns after his defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Taking the Gettysburg defeat personally, Lee noted in the letter that,

 "I have been prompted by these reflections more than once since my return from Pennsylvania to propose to Your Excellency the propriety of selecting another commander for this army... No one is more aware than myself of my inability for the duties of my position. I cannot even accomplish what I myself desire... I, therefore, in all sincerity, request your Excellency to take measure to supply my place." 

Not only emotionally weakened, Lee was also physically fatigued at age 56. After the war, Lee suffered the effects of pneumonia until his death on October 12th, 1870 after suffering a stroke.

Nixon's Vice President, Sprio Agnew

This day in 1968 was the day Republican Richard Nixon was nominated as presidential candidate for the upcoming election. Spiro T. Agnew, who later became Nixon's vice-president, was also nominated as a vice-presidential nominee on this day. Nixon promised to "bring an honorable end to the war in Vietnam."

37th U.S. President, Richard Nixon

Nixon and Agnew later became president and vice-president of the United States respectively in 1969.

In reference to the last paragraph, Nixon and Agnew became president and vice-president, respectively, though many may not give much respect to Richard Nixon. In many polls and rankings, President Nixon is considered one of the worst U.S. Presidents ever. On this day in 1974, Nixon announces at noon the next day, August 9th, he will resign from office as the President of the United States. To avoid certain impeachment after a major political scandal that he was involved in, Nixon decided to resign rather than be the second president to be impeached after Andrew Johnson. Nixon is currently the only U.S. President to resign from office