Posted on Sep 8, 2018
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On this day in 1974, President Gerald Ford, who assumed office on the heels of President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation, pardons his predecessor for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
Congress had accused Nixon of obstruction of justice during the investigation of the Watergate scandal, which began in 1972. White House tape recordings revealed that Nixon knew about and possibly authorized the illegal break-in and wiretapping of the Democratic National Committee offices, located in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. Rather than face impeachment and removal from office, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974.
There were no historical or legal precedents to guide Ford in the matter of Nixon’s pending indictment. In the end, he decided to give Nixon a full pardon for all offenses against the United States in order to put the tragic and disruptive scandal behind all concerned. Ford justified this decision by claiming that a long, drawn-out trial would only have further polarized the public. Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon was condemned by many and is thought to have contributed to Ford’s failure to win the 1976 election.
From his home in California, Nixon responded to Ford’s pardon, saying he had gained a different perspective on the Watergate affair since his resignation. He admitted that he was “wrong in not acting more decisively and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate, particularly when it reached the stage of judicial proceedings and grew from a political scandal into a national tragedy.”
Congress had accused Nixon of obstruction of justice during the investigation of the Watergate scandal, which began in 1972. White House tape recordings revealed that Nixon knew about and possibly authorized the illegal break-in and wiretapping of the Democratic National Committee offices, located in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. Rather than face impeachment and removal from office, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974.
There were no historical or legal precedents to guide Ford in the matter of Nixon’s pending indictment. In the end, he decided to give Nixon a full pardon for all offenses against the United States in order to put the tragic and disruptive scandal behind all concerned. Ford justified this decision by claiming that a long, drawn-out trial would only have further polarized the public. Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon was condemned by many and is thought to have contributed to Ford’s failure to win the 1976 election.
From his home in California, Nixon responded to Ford’s pardon, saying he had gained a different perspective on the Watergate affair since his resignation. He admitted that he was “wrong in not acting more decisively and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate, particularly when it reached the stage of judicial proceedings and grew from a political scandal into a national tragedy.”
President Ford pardons former President Nixon - Sep 08, 1974 - HISTORY.com
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Ford Pardons Nixon - September 8, 1974
Newly inaugurated Gerald Ford pardons his predecessor Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
Thank you for reminding us that on September 8, 1974 President Gerald Ford pardoned former President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
While this shocked many liberals of the time, the fact that Richard Millhouse Nixon resigned in lieu of being impeached was the most honorable thing he could have done since it preserved the honor of the Presidency at the cost of Richard Nixon's honor.
A generation later impeached former-President William Jefferson Clinton thumbed his nose at those who held the Presidency to be above reproach. He elected to go through impeachment since the Senate would not convict him since it was in majority democrat control.
My other had been glued to the black and white TV during the Watergate hearings. She was outraged that Nixon was pardoned as was the bulk of my extended liberal family.
I was not overly interested at that point and continued with my plan to enlist in the US Army.
Newly inaugurated Gerald Ford pardons his predecessor Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal on September 8, 1974.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM9dGr8ArR0
FYI LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip Roncari Sgt Arthur Caesar ]Lt Col Jim CoeCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSGT Jim Arnold Sgt Albert Castro PO3 Phyllis Maynard Maj Robert Thornton 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see) PO2 Kevin Parker
While this shocked many liberals of the time, the fact that Richard Millhouse Nixon resigned in lieu of being impeached was the most honorable thing he could have done since it preserved the honor of the Presidency at the cost of Richard Nixon's honor.
A generation later impeached former-President William Jefferson Clinton thumbed his nose at those who held the Presidency to be above reproach. He elected to go through impeachment since the Senate would not convict him since it was in majority democrat control.
My other had been glued to the black and white TV during the Watergate hearings. She was outraged that Nixon was pardoned as was the bulk of my extended liberal family.
I was not overly interested at that point and continued with my plan to enlist in the US Army.
Newly inaugurated Gerald Ford pardons his predecessor Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal on September 8, 1974.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM9dGr8ArR0
FYI LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip Roncari Sgt Arthur Caesar ]Lt Col Jim CoeCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSGT Jim Arnold Sgt Albert Castro PO3 Phyllis Maynard Maj Robert Thornton 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see) PO2 Kevin Parker
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