In the 50 years since Spiro Agnew resigned, Maryland has seen changes in officeholders’ accountability

Before his electoral career ended in a Baltimore courtroom 50 years ago, Spiro T. Agnew had enjoyed a meteoric rise. In less than two decades, one of Maryland’s most famous sons ascended from a low-ranking zoning commission position in the Baltimore suburbs to being one step removed from the U.S. presidency. His resignation in exchange for no jail time and pleading “no contest” to a single tax evasion charge in October 1973 bookended an important political career that began with his election as Baltimore County executive in 1962.