From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 11, 1973:

Local and state leaders were reacting with surprise to yesterday’s news of Vice President Spiro Agnew’s resignation. Following the announcement of Agnew’s historic decision by a staff secretary, the departing vice president had then pleaded no contest in federal court in Baltimore to a single count of federal tax evasion. He had been under federal investigation in connection with alleged kickbacks received when he was serving as Maryland’s governor. Rep. Larry Winn Jr., R-Kan, said today that representatives were “kind of stunned” at the news. “I was surprised, I think like most everyone, and I was kind of disappointed as a Republican,” Winn said, adding that Agnew deserved credit for “his very positive statement that this could hurt the country if it was dragged out…. I think he put the country ahead of himself.” Senator Robert Dole’s only comment, issued through a spokesman, was that he hoped President Nixon would “move quickly to nominate a man to fill the vacancy.” Gov. Robert Docking, a Democrat, said, “I don’t think this is a happy day or a pleasant day for any American. It is a dramatic event. My sincere hope is that the citizens of the United States, who for the past year or so have had their faith shaken in certain public officials, will still — although it may be difficult — retain their confidence in the many good public servants whose goal it is to serve honorably their fellow citizens.”