July 27, 1974: The House passes the first article of impeachment against President Nixon

After questions about President Nixon's knowledge of his re-election committee's criminal activities at the Watergate Hotel in 1972, the House of Representatives charged Nixon with the first of three articles of impeachment. The House took the action because Nixon had refused to submit incriminating audio tapes at the Supreme Court's request. On Aug. 5, with the impeachment process underway, Nixon released the tapes and then became the first president to resign Aug. 8.