Irony! Nixon sent Mark Felt a bottle of champagne after Felt was pardoned

[WI_DEM]

I got this from Nixon: Ruin and Recovery 1973-1990, by Stephen Ambrose (pp 536-537):

"...W. Mark Felt, former acting associate director, and Edward S. Miller, former chief of the Bureau's intelligence division...were chargeed with violating the civil rights of members of the radical Weather Underground by authorizing break-ins of suspects' homes during 1972 and 1973. They admitted they had given authorization; their defense was that they had done so in the name of national security...Nixon had followed the case closely and CONTRIBUTED money to their defense. He had offered to testify on their behalf, but fearing his impact on a largely black jury in Washington, the defendants' attorney had declined...Felt and Miller were found guilty and sentenced to pay fines of $5,000 and $3,500 respectively. They appealed, and the next year Reagan granted them presidential pardons. Nixon sent each man a bottle of champagne, with an accompanying note: 'justice ultimately prevails.'"

Little did he know.

[stellanoir]

1. that is

really wickedly funny.

[onehandle]

2. I imagine Nixon knew.

He was the President and had the capabilities to find out.

I bet he knew, but reacting at that point wouldn't have helped him.

[WI_DEM]

3. well, I don't think that Nixon knew exactly who was leaking

they guessed it could be Felt, but as the tapes show--Nixon dismissed it believing that he wouldn't want to risk his position in government to become a leaker.