July 5, 1971: The Twenty-Sixth Amendment is Certified by President Nixon

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. It was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971, ratified by 3/4 of the states on July 1, 1971, and certified by President Richard Nixon on July 5, 1971.

More Resources:

Amendment 26, U.S. Constitution Online

26th Amendment, Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School

The 26th Amendment, Historical Highlights, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives

26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, National Archives

Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

President Richard Nixon's Birthday

Today marks the 97th birthday of our 37th president, President Richard Milhous Nixon. President Nixon served from 1969 to 1974. He announced his resignation on August 8, 1974 to avoid certain impeachment over the Watergate scandal.

To learn more about President Nixon:



White House: Richard M. Nixon





American Presidents: Richard Milhous Nixon




Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation







Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Engineering