August 8th, 1974In Washington, President Richard Nixon says he will resign, amid damaging new revelations in the Watergate scandal. “I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office.”

1963Britain's “Great Train Robbery”, as thieves hold up the Glasgow-to-London mail train in an audacious heist. They steal 2.6 million pounds in bank notes, a sum that's equivalent to tens of millions of dollars today. 1942In Washington, six convicted Nazi saboteurs are executed after landing in the United States during World War II. Two more saboteurs convicted in the case receive prison sentences. 1879Emiliano Zapata, one of the major figures during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th Century, is born. And 1937"Mrs. Robinson, you are trying to seduce me, aren't you?"Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman is born in Los Angeles. Among his roles: The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Kramer vs. Kramer, Tootsie and Rain Man. Today in History, August 8th, Sandy Kozel, the Associated Press.