Richard M. Nixon, who had served as Vice-President under President Eisenhower, holds the unique place in history of being the only United States President to resign from office, as a consequence of his actions (or at least knowledge of actions) during the Watergate Scandal. His resignation staved off an almost-inevitable impeachment trial against the embattled president. His resignation invoked the first usage of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed a transition of power in the presidential administration.

President Nixon was a Quaker, and during the height of the Vietnam War many Quakers and non-Quakers alike felt the Nixonian hawkishness of the military was contrary to Nixon’s faith. This was played out as many wrote the president’s Quaker Meeting House imploring them to revoke Nixon’s membership in the congregation. Despite a pillar of Quakerism being pacifism, the congregation determined it ill-advised to defrock his membership in their community.

Listen to a Podcast on Quakerism and the Presidency.