Nixon resigned 50 years ago: Why it still matters now
On Aug. 9, 1974, President Richard Nixon waves goodbye from the steps of his helicopter outside the White House, after he gave a farewell address to members of the White House staff. (Chick Harrity/AP)
Fifty years ago Friday, former President Richard Nixon gave his final wave and boarded a helicopter leaving the White House after resigning from office. It was the culmination of the Watergate scandal. But Watergate involved much more abuse of power than just the break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters.
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong talks with presidential historian Tim Naftali. He is a senior research scholar at Columbia University and was formerly the federal director of the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. He says lessons learned after Watergate are being unlearned today.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
