What president did the Supreme Court rule against in 1974?
Asked by: Mr. Moses Rohan I | Last update: February 19, 2026Score: 5/5 (24 votes)
The Supreme Court ruled against President Richard Nixon in 1974 in the landmark case United States v. Nixon, unanimously ordering him to turn over White House tapes related to the Watergate scandal, a decision that affirmed executive privilege but not absolute immunity, leading to his resignation shortly after.
What was the Supreme Court decision in 1974?
Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974), was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in which the Court unanimously ordered President Richard Nixon to deliver tape recordings and other subpoenaed materials related to the Watergate scandal to a federal district court.
Which President was impeached in 1974?
With impeachment proceedings underway against him in Congress, Nixon bowed to public pressure and became the first American president to resign. At noon on August 9, 1974, Nixon officially ended his term, departing with his family in a helicopter from the White House lawn. Minutes later, Gerald R.
What action did Nixon take in 1974?
The White House released the "Smoking Gun" tape, showing that Nixon ordered the CIA stop the FBI's investigation. Facing impeachment, on August 9, 1974, Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign.
What did the Supreme Court rule in Trump v. United States?
In Trump v. United States (July 1, 2024), the Supreme Court granted President Trump significant criminal immunity for "official acts" related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, establishing absolute immunity for core powers and presumptive immunity for other official conduct, though leaving unofficial acts exposed. The 6-3 decision, written by Chief Justice Roberts, created a new standard for presidential immunity, stating presidents have absolute immunity for conclusive constitutional powers (like pardons) and presumptive immunity for other official actions (like discussions with DOJ), while no immunity exists for private conduct. This ruling led to the dismissal of some charges, sent others back for trial court review, and significantly impacted Special Counsel Jack Smith's prosecution.
What President did the Supreme Court rule against in 1974?
Who appointed more judges, Trump or Obama?
While President Obama appointed more judges overall (around 330-334) across his two terms compared to Donald Trump's single term (around 226-245), Trump appointed a higher proportion of powerful appellate court judges and more Supreme Court justices (three vs. Obama's two), significantly shifting the courts' ideological balance, especially the circuit courts.
Which US president tried to expand the Supreme Court?
After winning the 1936 presidential election in a landslide, Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a bill to expand the membership of the Supreme Court. The law would have added one justice to the Court for each justice over the age of 70, with a maximum of six additional justices.
Why was Nixon forced to resign as President in 1974?
Richard Nixon's resignation speech was a national television address delivered from the Oval Office by U.S. president Richard Nixon the evening of August 8, 1974, during which Nixon announced his intention to resign the presidency the following day, August 9, 1974, due to the Watergate scandal.
What happened on August 9, 1974?
President Nixon resigned from office on August 9, 1974. Vice President Gerald Ford acceded to the Presidency in the wake of Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974. A month later, the new President Gerald Ford issued a full pardon to the former President.
What major events happened in 1974?
1974 was marked by political upheaval with President Richard Nixon's resignation due to Watergate, the rise of disco in pop culture, major sports moments like Hank Aaron breaking the home run record, the discovery of China's Terracotta Army, and the start of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline construction, all set against a backdrop of post-oil crisis adjustments and burgeoning progressive values in the US.
Which president cried and quit?
The U.S. President who cried and ultimately resigned was Richard Nixon in August 1974 due to the Watergate scandal, famously shedding tears during emotional goodbyes with his staff and in private before his resignation became official, marking the only time a U.S. President has resigned from office.
Which president never pardoned?
The two U.S. presidents who never granted a pardon were William Henry Harrison, due to his death just a month into office, and James A. Garfield, who was assassinated early in his term, leaving neither president enough time to issue any.
Who is the only president to be impeached and convicted?
There has not been a U.S. President impeached and convicted; all presidents impeached by the House—Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice)—were acquitted by the Senate and remained in office. While numerous officials have been removed, no U.S. President has ever been convicted and removed from office through the Senate trial process.
What was the biggest story of 1974?
The summer of 1974 stands out in American history with the culmination of the Watergate scandal, leading President Richard Nixon to announce his decision to resign August 9.
Who were the five justices that overturned Roe v. Wade?
The majority opinion, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Has a president ever not listened to the Supreme Court?
In two notable nineteenth-century cases—Worcester v. Georgia (1832) and Ex parte Merryman (1861)—presidents took no action to enforce Supreme Court rulings under circumstances where many argued that they were obligated to do so.
What president resigned to avoid impeachment?
Thus, while Nixon himself was not impeached, the impeachment process against him is so far the only one that has brought about a president's departure from office (he resigned).
Why is the year 1974 important?
Significant events in the year 1974 include major political disruptions, such as the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal, and impactful contests in the world of sports, including The Rumble in the Jungle, a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
What was the #1 song in August 1974?
🇺🇸 51 years ago, on August 24th, 1974: Paul Anka started a THREE week run at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “(You're) Having My Baby”, from her fourteenth studio album, Anka. It was recorded as a duet with female vocalist Odia Coates, the song became Anka's first No.
Who became President when Nixon resigned?
Swearing-in. Gerald Ford is sworn in as president by Chief Justice Warren Burger in the White House East Room, while Betty Ford looks on. When Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Ford automatically assumed the presidency, taking the oath of office in the East Room of the White House.
What was Nixon pardoned for?
In particular, the pardon covered Nixon's actions during the Watergate scandal.
Who convinced Nixon to resign?
Goldwater returned to the Senate in 1969 and specialized in defense and foreign policy. Along with Jay Rhodes and Hugh Scott, he successfully urged president Richard Nixon to resign in 1974 when evidence of a cover-up in the Watergate scandal became overwhelming and impeachment was imminent.
Who were the 4 horsemen of the Supreme Court?
From 1932 to 1937, the Supreme Court had a conservative bloc called “The Four Horsemen”: Associate Justices Pierce Butler, James Clark McReynolds, George Sutherland, and Willis Van Devanter.
Who has the power to change the size of the Supreme Court?
2021). While no provision of the Constitution expressly prohibits legislative changes to the size of the Supreme Court, and Congress has changed the size of the Court multiple times in the past, some commentators debated whether the proposals were inconsistent with constitutional norms.
Who did Barack Obama put on the Supreme Court?
The first was Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice David H. Souter. Sotomayor was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 6, 2009, by a vote of 68–31. The second appointment was that of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to replace the retired John Paul Stevens.