Richard Nixon - 1973 inauguration

WASHINGTON (CNN/NATIONAL ARCHIVES) - Richard M. Nixon was sworn in as the 37th president of the United States in 1969. But he resigned in shame about halfway through his second term in 1974.

Nixon was born in 1913. After college, he became a lawyer and served in the military during World War II.

He served in the House and Senate and then was Dwight Eisenhower's vice president.

Nixon's presidential election win in 1968 followed a failed run for president in 1960 and for California governor in 1962.

After his landslide re-election in 1972, the Nixon's administration became embroiled in the Watergate scandal which followed a break-in at the DNC headquarters during the re-election campaign and an attempted cover-up of the incident.

Nixon denied he was involved, but tape recordings indicated he attempted to divert the investigation.

On a path to impeachment, Nixon announced his resignation on August 8th, 1974. He later received a presidential pardon by Gerald Ford.