Refer to explorations in literature for a complete version of this article. read this excerpt from "nixon resigns" by carroll kilpatrick: at 7: 30 p. m., mr. nixon again left the white house for the short walk to the executive office building. the crowd outside the gates waved u. s. flags and sang “america” as he walked slowly up the steps, his head bowed, alone. which details of this excerpt refine the central idea that the resignation of the president is a historical event? the informal tone and the fact that the president was alone and walking slowly the formal tone and the description of the crowd waving flags and singing patriotic songs the informal tone and the time of day that nixon walked to the executive office building the formal tone and the fact that nixon walked to the executive office building