President Nixon gives V sign as he departs White House 40 years ago this hour (Aug 9 1974)


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(Friday, August 9, 1974, 10:00 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — U.S. President Richard Nixon, having been escorted by Vice President Gerald Ford, his wife Betty and Nixon’s wife Pat, mounted the steps of a waiting helicopter this morning on the South Lawn of the White House.

He then turned and jerked a wave and then lifted his arms in the familiar “victory” gesture, his final act before flying off to Andrews Air Force Base to board a jet to California after resigning the presidency in disgrace (click here for a clip of Nixon’s departure on Aug. 9, 1974, from ‘The Presidents: Nixon’ at 2:45:40).


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Video: 'RICHARD NIXON WAVES GOODBYE'