199. Editorial Note
On August 9, 1974, amid allegations of misconduct related to the Watergate scandal, President Richard M. Nixon resigned from office and was replaced by Vice President Gerald R. Ford. Between 10:47 and 11:10 a.m. that morning, a special session of the Washington Special Actions Group was held to manage the foreign policy aspects of the transition. That afternoon, Ford signed National Security Decision Memorandum 265, which reaffirmed the organization and procedures of the National Security Council system. The following day, August 10, Ford called a meeting of the National Security Council, where he reiterated his decision. For the minutes of the WSAG and NSC meetings and the text of NSDM 265, see Documents 38–40, Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XXXVIII, Part 1, Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1973–1976. President Ford addressed a joint session of Congress on August 12; his remarks on foreign policy are ibid., Document 41.