Spiro Agnew’s resignation as Vice President of the United States in October 1973 marked a dramatic and unprecedented moment in American political history. Serving under President Richard Nixon, Agnew’s meteoric rise from local office to the country’s second-highest elected position came to an abrupt end amid revelations of long-standing corruption and tax evasion. His decision to step down, followed by a no-contest plea to a felony charge, not only ended his political career but also changed the course of the Nixon administration and the nation’s leadership succession. Understanding why Spiro Agnew resigned involves examining the complex web of bribery allegations, legal compromise, and national urgency present at the time.
The Investigation into Political Corruption
Early Allegations and the Role of George Beall
The unraveling of Agnew’s career began in early 1972, when George Beall, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, launched an investigation into corruption involving county and state political figures. The inquiry uncovered allegations that Agnew had accepted kickbacks from contractors during his tenure as Baltimore County Executive, Governor of Maryland, and later Vice President. According to one contractor, Lester Matz, Agnew received about five percent in illicit payments tied to public contracts
Continuation into Federal Office
Investigators found that the pattern of bribery extended into Agnew’s time in the vice presidency, though the payments were made prior to his federal service. Records from Maryland’s road commission included files alleging that Agnew’s attic contained detailed documentation of corrupt transactions
Legal Pressure and Constitutional Debate
Vice Presidential Immunity Controversy
Faced with the potential of criminal charges, Agnew initially argued that a sitting vice president could not be indicted and that removal from office required impeachment. However, the Solicitor General clarified that the vice president could indeed face indictment while in office
Plea Negotiations and National Stakes
By mid-1973, in the context of the wider Watergate scandal and rising pressure on the Nixon administration, both sides negotiated a deal. In secret talks, Agnew’s legal team, government prosecutors, and even figures like Attorney General Elliot Richardson discussed terms for a plea in exchange for his resignation
The Resignation and Guilty Plea
October 10, 1973: The Turning Point
On October 10, 1973, Agnew formally submitted his resignation to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and simultaneously appeared in federal court in Baltimore. There, he pleaded nolo contendere no contest to a single felony charge of tax evasion related to unreported income from 1967. In return, prosecutors dropped more serious allegations like bribery, extortion, and conspiracy
Consequences of the Plea
Agnew was fined $10,000 and received a three-year unsupervised probation sentence. He acknowledged the plea amounted to a felony conviction and stated his resignation was in the national interest, aiming to prevent a constitutional crisis during a politically volatile era
Political and Historical Significance
First Vice Presidential Resignation in a Century
Spiro Agnew became the second vice president to resign from office the first being John C. Calhoun in 1832. His exit came just ten months before President Nixon’s resignation, amplifying its impact
Succession Under the 25th Amendment
Agnew’s departure triggered the first-ever use of the 25th Amendment for selecting a new vice president. Nixon nominated House Minority Leader Gerald Ford, who was confirmed by both chambers of Congress and sworn in on December 6, 1973. Less than a year later, Ford would become president following Nixon’s resignation over Watergate
Legacy and Aftermath
Disbarment and Private Life
In 1974, the Maryland Court of Appeals disbarred Agnew, describing him as morally obtuse. He thereafter faded from public office, shifting to business consulting and writing. His memoir criticized the administration and claimed he resigned under duress alleging threats from White House officials, a claim widely dismissed
Financial Restitution and Quiet Retirement
A 1981 court ruling required Agnew to repay Maryland approximately $147,000 plus interest for kickbacks. He settled this debt by 1983 and thereafter avoided the public eye. Agnew died on September 17, 1996, at age 77
Why Agnew Stepped Down
Spiro Agnew’s resignation was not tied to the Watergate scandal but stemmed from personal involvement in corruption stretching back to his tenure in Maryland. The Justice Department’s accumulation of evidence against him forced a legal reckoning: a plea to tax evasion, resignation from high office, and closure to avoid exposing the nation to a constitutional crisis amid Nixon’s growing troubles. His downfall reshaped the presidency, vice presidency, and public trust, making his case a cautionary tale of power, accountability, and political fragility.
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