On this November 17th in 1973 the question on everyone's mind was what was Nixon planning on doing, now that his credibility was shot. Shot, not only with the public, but within the ranks of his own party.
Sen. Edward Brooke (R-Mass.): “I suggested as I’ve said before; resignation. He was very gracious. He said he understood that my statement was not made with malice. He understood it. The reasoning that I gave for it. But he did . . he thought that would be the easy way out and was not going to accept that suggestion.”
At the time, resignation was out of the question, and it was hoped Nixon could turn around his standing in the polls. But, in addition to the Watergate scandal, the Energy crisis was looming, with talk of gas and oil rationing during the winter months. The writing was on the wall and there was an active movement afoot to gain distance from the President in light of the coming 1974 mid-term elections. Nobody even wanted to consider 1976.
