But what Nixon underestimated was the vigilance of the American press, and especially the investigative reporting of two journalists at the Washington Post, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Their steady uncovering of White House crimes led to calls for Nixon's resignation. "In recent months, members of my administration … have been charged with involvement in what has come to be known as the Watergate Affair. The inevitable result of these charges has been to raise serious questions about the integrity of the White House itself," Nixon said.

By August 1974, secret tape recordings from Nixon's office proved he had been part of an illegal coverup. Two years and two months after the Watergate break-in, Richard Nixon, to escape impeachment, resigned from office. At a nationally televised press conference he announced his decision: "I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office."

At his swearing-in, Gerald Ford said this: "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works. Our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule."