How Many Presidents Resigned: The Unbroken Line of Impeachment and Removal

Four U.S. presidents have formally resigned from office—each in a moment of profound national crisis, each a stark testament to the gravity of constitutional accountability. Though the performative weight of resignation has varied across eras, their exits collectively underscore a critical truth: no leader stands above the Constitution, and no office is immune to the consequences of political scandal or criminal implication.

With Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974 marking the first, followed by two more in later decades, the nation’s presidency has endured both continuity and rupture—two resignations standing alone as defining acts of democratic resilience. The story begins with Richard Nixon, the 37th president, who became the only U.S. chief of state to resign under threat of impeachment.

Resigning on August 8, 1974, Nixon declared in his resignation speech: “Before you, fellow Americans, I rest my case.” His departure followed damning evidence of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and misuse of federal authority during the Watergate scandal—factors so compelling that even his closest allies could not sustain his hold on office. The crisis forced a constitutional reckoning, with the 25th Amendment providing the legal pathway for resignation. Nixon’s exit left a permanent scar on presidential legitimacy, reinforcing public skepticism about unchecked power.

> Over four decades later, Bill Clinton remained the second president to resign—though not for impeachment, but for perjury and obstruction related to a private investigation. In June 1999, after a grand jury probe into his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky, Clinton became the first president to resign without congressional impeachment. His sorrowful statement at the White House—“I’ve made a mistake… I’ve failed the American people”—marked a retreat from public office, triggered by mounting pressure from investigators, bloviated congressional testimony, and the specter of removal.

Though acquitted by the Senate, the political and moral weight of the moment ensured his resignation would stand as a landmark of downfall through personal scandal rather than constitutional impeachment. Latest in this rare chapter stands Andrew Johnson, the 17th president, whose 1868 resignation arose from a direct clash with Congress over Reconstruction policies. After being impeached by the House for violating the Tenure of Office Act—specifically removing Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, without Senate approval—Johnson’s refusal to comply precipitated his forced exit.

Although the Senate fell one vote short of convicting him, his resignation was widely seen as a political surrender, underscoring the fragility of executive power in a divided government. Johnson’s case highlighted how policy battles could escalate into existential constitutional confrontations, reshaping the balance between presidency and Congress. A side-by-side comparison reveals patterns, contrasts, and enduring implications: - **Richard Nixon (1974)**: Resigned preemptively amid impeachment proceedings; resignation prevented criminal trial.

- **Bill Clinton (1999)**: Resigned involuntarily after perjury charges; trial never reached the Senate. - **Andrew Johnson (1868)**: Resigned under congressional pressure following impeachment for defying legislative authority. Each exit altered the landscape of presidential accountability.

Nixon’s resignation revealed the power of investigative journalism and legal checks; Clinton’s underscored how personal indiscretions, when institutionalized through legal and political pressure, could destabilize a presidency; Johnson’s demonstrated how executive-legislative conflict could lead to extraordinary constitutional maneuvers. No president has since resigned, yet each resignation remains a living reference point in debates over ethics, power, and responsibility. The option of resignation—enshrined in Article II and the 25th Amendment—remains a solemn option in the president’s toolkit, invoking national introspection and history’s judgment.

As the scripts of succession unfold, the pattern is clear: constitutional crises precipitate exile, and the presidency, though resilient, is bound by law and loyalty to the public trust. The number stands fixed—four—but the weight of each resignation echoes deeper, reminding every successor that service is not a right, but a responsibility.