The events of late summer of 1974 resulted in a truly historic front page in every newspaper in America on Aug. 9. And, surely, one of the most tragically embarrassing moments in history. The Rocky's page 1 story, edited from wire services:

"WASHINGTON - President Nixon resigned Thursday night, telling the nation he acted to help heal the wounds of Watergate and to give America 'a full-time president' in Gerald Ford.

"As he became the first man to resign the highest office, Nixon urged Americans to rally behind Ford, who will assume the powers of the presidency at noon Friday (10 a.m. Denver time).

"That is the effective hour of the resignation Nixon said was personally abhorrent, but necessary in the national interest."

Stories and photos covered 14 pages, including the entire text of both Nixon's televised resignation speech and Ford's following address to the nation.

Former Colorado Governor John Love, who was ousted as the nation's first energy czar after six months with the Nixon administration, was quoted in one of the lead stories: "I feel like a man who lost my reservation on the Titanic."

The Rocky gathered reaction from citizens found in Duffy's Tavern, May D&F's old downtown department store, the men's grill at the Denver Country Club and bars across the city.

A photo page presented a gallery of Nixon moments - waving with Spiro Agnew; bantering with Nikita Khrushchev; toasting with Chou En-lai; and walking the San Clemente beach alone, wearing his presidential windbreaker.

One Associated Press story speculated that Colorado very soon would have another president as a regular visitor.

"VAIL (AP) - This ski resort town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains may become 'Winter White House' as Vice President Gerald Ford takes over the presidency.

"Ford has been a familiar sight on the ski slopes each winter, especially at Christmas time, since he bought a $50,000 condominium for his family in 1970."

Bumped by history

Some Denver television viewers were particularly incensed over Nixon's address, the Rocky reported. The speech interrupted the popular serials Kung Fu, The Streets of San Francisco, Here's Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show and - oh my god! - a World Football League game between the Hawaii Hawaiians and the Jacksonville Sharks.

" 'I tell them they're going to get commentary until 11 because that's what ABC is giving us,' " Mrs. Esther Gregg, the switchboard operator at Channel 9 told the paper. " 'But these 'Kung Fu' people aren't satisfied when you tell them it's cancelled for the night.' "

Ads of the times

In the same edition, Montgomery Ward was still selling sewing machines for $59.88. And a Lionel Richie look-alike showed off Afro "permanents" for $19.95.

At the movies

It may not have been a good year for presidents, but it was a Golden Age at movie theaters. The Rocky was running large display ads for Doctor Zhivago, Death Wish, Night of the Iguana, Chinatown and - not to be missed - Disney's Herbie Rides Again.

Michael Madigan 150@RockyMountainNews.com