Having loved every minute watching the Watergate hearings, I wanted Nixon to get what was coming to him. But I could see reasons for not going through with it. I haven’t thought about all this in a long time, so I’m not sure what I think about this essay.
In the days since Gerald Ford’s death, so much praise has been heaped on the late president’s blanket pardon to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, that you’d think Tricky Dick was Jean Valjean. These magnanimous pronouncements are a preening exercise in cost-free generosity three decades after the fact. They reflect little or no consideration of the merits of the pardon itself.
No new information has emerged during the past 32 years that makes Ford’s pardon to Nixon look any more justifiable; indeed, what facts have dribbled forth make it seem less so. [...] Nor can the pardon plausibly be considered an example of the bipartisan spirit for which Ford is justly, if too extravagantly, praised by Washington insiders. The pardon may have had the long-term effect of tamping down partisan warfare between Democrats and Republicans over a possible criminal trial (obstruction of justice would have been the likeliest charge), but when a Republican short-circuits prosecution of a fellow Republican, you can’t call that bipartisanship. These logical obstacles help explain why people who defend the pardon today do so with vague language about how, in retrospect, it was better for the country to set rancor aside and move on.
Why was Ford wrong to pardon Nixon? Mainly because it set a bad precedent. Nixon had not yet been indicted, let alone convicted, of any crime. It’s never a good idea to pardon somebody without at least finding out first what you’re pardoning him for. How can you possibly weigh the quality of mercy against considerations of justice?
You can say what you want, but short of selling out to a foreign country, no President will ever stand convicted after an impeachment. Its not in the best interest of the country and you will never see it.
Hey if Clinton could pardon Mark Rich, then I would expect the same for any President, short of what I said above.
who wants to second guess something that we could never be completely informed about that happened 30 years ago. While we are at it do you think the fonz ever got outta Wisconsin.
Ford should have at least required Nixon to confess before the pardon so that he couldn’t claim he was innocent for the rest of his life.
I was there, the country was being torn apart. Nothing would have been accomplished by a trial. The man suffered a great disgrace and condemned himself as a crook. Life needed to move on.
I completely agree with #4. It was the right thing to do. President Ford’s action was in the best interest of the country. He was a true statesman. It’s been a while sent any prominent political leaders provided this kind of leadership.
The best thing about the pardon was Ford’s insistence that the government retain ownership of the tapes. That was the price Nixon paid for the pardon. When the tapes were fully released it revealed a side of Nixon that not many people were privy to. I’ve read quite a bit about Watergate and Nixon. Nixon could have been a great president but his paranoia was his undoing. The Woodward/Bernstein book, I think it’s called “The Final Days” is particularly riveting. It shows just how badly the Watergate affair had affected Nixon and how his ability to govern was compromised. In my opinion, Al Haig was the real hero of those final days.
Ford did what was best for the country and it cost him his re-election. Pretty much he took one for the country, in my opinion.
Cost FORD the election?
You know Ford was never elected to high office. He was the clean up man all around, brought in (not quite constitutionally) to replace Agnew when Agnew’s criminal acts drove him to tax exile. Then he pardons Nixon, which was his only job–his ONLY job. That was Ford’s job–to pardon Tricky Dick Nixon.
I wouldn’t have elected Ford to ANYTHING. I don’t care if he’s dead–he was a putz.
Ford should pardon their entire product line. Oh wait, not that Ford – sorry…
I agree that “for the good of the country” certain things are done, but……….I don’t agree with the shun of Accountability. No one is above the law, and for a true democracy to work, ALL should be held accountable. I don’t care what your job title is!!!!!!!!!!!
As someone who (thankfully) wasn’t alive during this period of time, it seems to me the ultimate punishment for Nixon was for Watergate to end. When it did, the hope of absolution was lost, and he became meaningless in the American landscape.
Nixon was a political animal. Guilt and innocence are secondary to power. It’s a shame that both our current and last Presidents (Bush and Clinton) share the same point of view. This is the only condition that may have been avoided by a trial.
#7 – If you wonder why you’re not in the majority with you opinions, it is because you’re an idiot.
#8 – When I pass you in my Mustang, the hand gesture I give you isn’t to let you know you’re #1.
isnt a little to late (like by decades) to ask this question?
From someone from the outside looking in, the Pardon was wrong and has had grave repercussions since.
If Nixon had been indicted or impeached, then Reagan would not have been so eager to sell weapons to our enemy of the moment, Iran. Nor would we have had the CIA supporting the right wing death squads in Central and South America. The Pardon has also encouraged Bush jr to lie to America and continue on his destruction of the US.
The Pardon also weakened the Presidency so both Ford and Carter were very weakened. Ford was not a good President, statesman, or even Congressman. He will forever be known for three things.
1) The only President never elected.
2) The Pardon.
3) and,… ummm,… the,…
Nixon was a crook, a liar, and a war criminal. Sound Familiar? Just another example of the good ole boys covering each others asses. A lot of good men died during his war tenure.
#11: Not if you consider it could happen again.
#14 – thats true, history tends to repeat itself
I think that Ford did the right thing in pardoning Nixon.
his mistakes were (1) that he did not pardon the Vietnam draft-dodgers as well. that way he could truly be said to have helped end the tumult of the 60s; and (2) the phrasing of the pardon “for any crimes he MAY HAVE committed.” I would have made it clear that I believed he had committed crimes while president.
there is a myth that Nixon could have “rejected” a pardon that was phrased definitively. no one can reject a pardon – it is an act of grace by the executive, and you get it whether you want it or not.
#10 – I can only assume your hand gesture would be your IQ or number of white parents.
I can’t imagine what good could have come from protracted legal proceedings against Nixon himself. He effectively went into exile for quite some time, and nobody believed he was innocent. So why bother?
Ford never wanted to be prez anyway…had things been different in the White House he would have retired as a little-known VP, and that would have been perfect with him. And Grand Rapids would still be holding a huge ceremony because of his positive impact on the area.
#17 – And you’re a racist to boot. Not that we needed anymore proof of your lack of intelligence, however…
Also, your assumption would be wrong. I’d be referencing the length of your dick in inches, bitch.
It would have been better for America if Ford had stood on the principle that no-one — NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT — is above the law.
Instead, Ford set the precedent that a president can trash the constitution and get a free pass.