Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States from 1969 until 1974, the only president to resign the office. He had previously served as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961, and prior to that as both a U.S. Representative and Senator from California. (from Wiki)
I'm curious about what things people defended from his tenure as well as things that people might point to as making up for his crimes.
Not only towards the time of his resignation, but as the investigation rolled on (I see it began in 1972; his resignation occurred in 1974.) did he still have many staunch supporters stating he was innocent? were there still people trying to claim that his words/actions were being misinterpreted, misunderstood, or twisted to fit a narrative? Was there any theory involving the deep state trying to besmirch his name? Are there still people trying to suggest such a notion?
Not only towards the time of his resignation, but as the investigation rolled on (I see it began in 1972; his resignation occurred in 1974.) did he still have many staunch supporters stating he was innocent?
Taken from an earlier answer:
Most Republicans stuck out with Nixon to the end. In August 1974, a week before his resignation, a Gallup poll found 57% of Americans supported impeaching and removing Nixon, while 31% opposed. Among Republicans, 59% said they do not think Nixon should be impeached and removed from office while 31% thought that he should. Despite plummeting approval ratings and economic problems on top of the scandal, around a third of the country stuck with the president through the entire Watergate scandal.