Local history: Akron had emotional reactions to news of Nixon resignation 50 years ago

“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over,” President Gerald R. Ford announced Aug. 9, 1974, after taking the oath of office at the White House.

“Our Constitution works; our great republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule. But there is a higher power, by whatever name we honor him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice but mercy.

“As we bind up the internal wounds of Watergate, more painful and more poisonous than those of foreign wars, let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate.”

Elevated to the office from the vice presidency, Ford gave a televised address 30 minutes after President Richard M. Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal.

“To have served in this office is to have felt a very personal sense of kinship with each and every American,” Nixon said in his final address. “In leaving it, I do so with this prayer: May God’s grace be with you in all the days ahead.”

How did Akron handle the news? The responses were quite emotional. Here are local reactions 50 years ago to Nixon’s resignation and Ford’s succession.

Local reactions to President Richard Nixon's resignation

Otto W. Weigel, 81, a Firestone retiree from Akron: “Well, I hope you Nixon haters are satisfied. His only offense was to try and keep the country from being taken over by the revolutionary radicals. Christ, too, was crucified. Remember?”

Anna M. Johnson, 63, a Firestone retiree from Wadsworth: “I have no sympathy. I put him in the category of Hitler. He didn’t care who he stepped on or destroyed. He’s destroyed lives, the people of the United States, the economy.”

Tom Brophy, 24, of Akron: “The resignation is good. The pressure’s been on. Now maybe the government can concentrate on the problems and make some changes — like bringing gas down from 58.9 cents.”

Sandra Huffman, 24, of Stow: “If it were me doing a crime, they would not hesitate to throw me in jail. Just because Mr. Nixon’s got ‘President’ before his name, that should not make him any different.”

Fay Ackerson, 86, a retired General Tire bookkeeper: “It makes my heart ache. I think he’s a fine man, but a lot of mean things have been done to him.”

Mike Mort, 22, a University of Akron student: “The beer I had during that speech was the best tasting one I ever had in my life.”

John McKoski, 21, a University of Akron student: “There’s gonna be trouble. Things are going to get out of hand. The people will feel they have too much power.”

Judy Ball, 32, a Holiday Inn barmaid: “I don’t think he was any more guilty than any other politician. The only thing he did wrong was to get caught. He didn’t do anything that hurt the country.”

Lois Nixon, 45, of Akron: “He has to be a strong man to withstand all he’s gone through. Most of us would have gone out the back door long before.”

Martha Lynn, 65, of Cuyahoga Falls: “I hope the people are satisfied now that they have gotten rid of our president. We should bow our heads in shame. You can’t expect a person to be perfect. We all make mistakes.”

Ralph A. Hinman, 75, a Portage County farmer: “He will go down in history as one of the country’s greatest presidents. I wish he would have stuck it out. So many criticized Nixon unfairly.”

U.S. Rep. John F. Seiberling, 55, Akron congressman on the House Judiciary Committee: “His resignation was a statesmanlike thing to do, and his speech … was the best I ever heard him make. As I listened, I couldn’t help thinking that this whole tragic end resulted because he apparently failed to understand that the high ideals he expressed … also have to be coupled with a sensitivity toward the means used to achieve them.”

Gene Waddell, 46, Summit County Republican chairman: “I think he made a statement that admitted in one sense that some of his judgments were wrong and this led to the loss of a political base which is necessary to govern and to move the programs which he believed in.”

Earl Cunningham, 54, Summit County Democratic chairman: “It was a copout. Nixon has defended his innocence and said he would never resign and would see it through to the end. In the best interest of the public, his resignation is proper. Many other people were tried and punished on the same evidence. Why should he believe he is above the law?”

U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, 54, a Republican from Canton: “I hope that regardless of political beliefs, all Americans will act with compassion toward Mr. Nixon and his family. This is a time of healing of wounds and a bipartisan effort to move forward with the people’s business.”

Betty Gidley, 54, of Stow: “I feel sorry for him. I feel he was sucked into a situation he had no control over.”

Lou Kay, 59, co-owner of Lou & Hy’s Delicatessen in Akron: “He didn’t tell the truth. Some people who are now in jail don’t deserve it. But they did things under his order. I think there’s a fear of putting a man of such high office behind bars, but the president ordered the dirty work. Except for the Watergate thing, he did such a good job.”

Myrtle Martin, 78, of Macedonia: “My heart aches for the Nixons. I don’t know much about Ford, but I hope he runs things like presidents did years ago — straight.”

Local reactions to President Gerald Ford succeeding Richard Nixon

Ray C. Bliss, 68, of Akron, former Republican national chairman: “It’s a whole new ballgame. I believe the party will unite behind Jerry Ford. He’s a team player who will keep his lines of communication open. … [It’s] a fresh start — both for the party and the country. It’s a relief that somebody is going in there unfettered by the circumstances of the past few years. And I don’t care if he is a Republican or a Democrat.”

Gene Donatell, 19, a Kent State student: “Since he’s been connected with Nixon and had some of Nixon rubbed off on him, I’m not too excited about him. Things won’t change that much with him.”

Jesse Woods, 67, a retired Goodyear employee from Marshallville: “Gerald Ford is not the man the American people would have voted into office.”

Judith Burkett, 51, a clerk at Riviera Bowling Lanes in Fairlawn: “We don’t know too much about him, do we? I’ve had quite a few people say that to me. I’m definitely apprehensive.”

Evelyn McNutt, 65, a teacher from Massillon: “I don’t think he’s strong enough of a man to run the government.”

Iona C. Hudson, 63, of Canal Fulton: “[He’s] the only one at present who is any good. I used to think he was a pantywaist, but I think, especially since he’s read those tapes, he’s a different person.”

Mike Pernice, 18, University of Akron student president: “[Watergate will] make future presidents more honest and accountable to the people — national security no longer will be an excuse for illegal actions. Everyone has a lot of respect for Mr. Ford.”

William C. Cartwright, 56, a Northfield insurance agent: “I think everything will turn around and start righting itself.”

Greg Rambo, 24, of Kent: “When I think about our nation’s 200th birthday in 1976, I hope it will be the beginning of a new spirit.”

Morgan Winget, 28, assistant credit manager at J.M. Smucker in Orrville: “I think politics will become more decent in the next 10 or 15 years because of the Watergate scandal. We have to have some hope.”

Mark J. Price can be reached at  mprice@thebeaconjournal.com

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How Akron reacted to President Nixon’s resignation