Gerald Ford's statement on pardoning Nixon:

[pinto]

President Gerald R. Ford's Remarks on Signing a Proclamation Granting Pardon to Richard Nixon

Ladies and gentlemen:

I have come to a decision which I felt I should tell you and all of my fellow American citizens, as soon as I was certain in my own mind and in my own conscience that it is the right thing to do.

I have learned already in this office that the difficult decisions always come to this desk. I must admit that many of them do not look at all the same as the hypothetical questions that I have answered freely and perhaps too fast on previous occasions.

My customary policy is to try and get all the facts and to consider the opinions of my countrymen and to take counsel with my most valued friends. But these seldom agree, and in the end, the decision is mine. To procrastinate, to agonize, and to wait for a more favorable turn of events that may never come or more compelling external pressures that may as well be wrong as right, is itself a decision of sorts and a weak and potentially dangerous course for a President to follow.

<snip>

Theirs (the Nixons') is an American tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must.

There are no historic or legal precedents to which I can turn in this matter, none that precisely fit the circumstances of a private citizen who has resigned the Presidency of the United States. But it is common knowledge that serious allegations and accusations hang like a sword over our former President's head, threatening his health as he tries to reshape his life, a great part of which was spent in the service of this country and by the mandate of its people.

After years of bitter controversy and divisive national debate, I have been advised, and I am compelled to conclude that many months and perhaps more years will have to pass before Richard Nixon could obtain a fair trial by jury in any jurisdiction of the United States under governing decisions of the Supreme Court.

I deeply believe in equal justice for all Americans, whatever their station or former station. The law, whether human or divine, is no respecter of persons; but the law is a respecter of reality.

<snip>

But it is not the ultimate fate of Richard Nixon that most concerns me, though surely it deeply troubles every decent and every compassionate person. My concern is the immediate future of this great country.

In this, I dare not depend upon my personal sympathy as a long-time friend of the former President, nor my professional judgment as a lawyer, and I do not.

As President, my primary concern must always be the greatest good of all the people of the United States whose servant I am. As a man, my first consideration is to be true to my own convictions and my own conscience.

My conscience tells me clearly and certainly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that continue to reopen a chapter that is closed. My conscience tells me that only I, as President, have the constitutional power to firmly shut and seal this book. My conscience tells me it is my duty, not merely to proclaim domestic tranquillity but to use every means that I have to insure it.

<snip>

"Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from July (January) 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974."

(The President signed the proclamation and then resumed reading.)

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and ninety-ninth."

http://www.ford.utexas.edu/LIBRARY/SPEECHES/740060.htm

[MichiganVote]

1. And the outcome was the loss of his presidential bid.....

[nashville_brook]

2. i was thinking the outcome was the country's loss of faith in justice

[Erika]

4. The public felt Nixon should be held accountable

Ford was kicked out but Nixon was let off. Probably what will happen to W.

[MichiganVote]

8. Today there would be extensive polling on the whole thing but at the time...

people just wanted Nixon out of office. After Agnew, the debacle of Nam' and a host of civil rights issues, people seemed to me to just want Nixon and the scandals gone. I'm not sure that people really understood what Ford was trying to do. But who knows?

[Erika]

10. The country had seen the corruption of the GOP once again

Both Agnew and Nixon were totally corrupt. Reagan must have been one heck of an actor to gain those forces back.

[Erika]

3. What president will pardon W for his impeachable acts?

Including invading and occupying Iraq?

[Shipwack]

5. President Lieberman?

::shudder::

[Erika]

6. I hope not n/t

[pinto]

7. Nixon resigned under the apparent possibility of impeachment.

And at the encouragement of Republican members of Congress.

Impeachment is not a criminal proceeding, of course, it's a political process to remove an office holder.

Mr. Ford's pardon covered any future criminal accusations.

I still have some qualms about exempting Mr. Nixon from criminal prosecution, but at the time it was so good to hear a national leader say we're going to put this behind us.

In that sense, Mr. Ford did a good service to the country, imo.

[Erika]

9. The silliness is unbelieveable

and the hatred of the GOP against the democrats. Nixon was clearly a crook but the GOP impeached W on a blow job with a consensual adult. Unbelieveable.

The GOP is the party of hatred and pettiness.