nixon chose to resign from office on august 9, 1974 because he wished not to be impeached. this means that he might have been charged with crimes. the u.s. congress could not impeach him if he resigned. after this, gerald ford, his vice-president, became the president by default. ford pardoned nixon for all of his crimes later on. the name "watergate" comes from the hotel in washington, d.c. where the first crime and break in took place, and is often associated with political scandals.