AGNEW, Spiro

Spiro Theodore Agnew served as the 39th Vice President of the United States from 1969 until his resignation in 1973, becoming the second vice president in American history to resign from office. His political career collapsed amid federal investigations into corruption dating to his time as Maryland governor.

Agnew began his political career as a county executive in Baltimore County, Maryland, establishing a reputation as a moderate Republican supporting civil rights and environmental protection. His success in local government led to his election as Maryland governor in 1966, where he initially continued his moderate positions on social issues.

Richard Nixon selected Agnew as his running mate in the 1968 presidential election, partly to appeal to Southern voters and law-and-order conservatives. As vice president, Agnew became known for his aggressive attacks on antiwar protesters, liberal politicians, and news media, using phrases like “nattering nabobs of negativism” to describe critics of the Nixon administration.

Federal investigations beginning in 1973 revealed that Agnew had accepted cash payments from contractors while serving as Baltimore County executive and Maryland governor, continuing the practice even as vice president. The scheme involved contractors paying bribes in exchange for favorable treatment in government contracts and development projects.

Agnew denied wrongdoing and initially refused to resign. On October 10, 1973, he resigned and pleaded no contest to one federal tax charge. He received three years’ probation and a $10,000 fine.

Agnew’s resignation occurred just months before the Watergate scandal would force Nixon’s own resignation, making 1973-1974 a period of unprecedented crisis in American executive leadership and significantly damaging public trust in government institutions.