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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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 Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject: Why Did Ford Pardon Nixon...? |
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Leadership? Humanitarian movtives? Cynical cover-up (of JFK's assassination as well as Watergate)? What?
Of particular interest to posters who share Regicide's views, the Kennedy family and Foundation do not agree.
In fact, JFK's Foundation awarded Ford the President's "Profile in Courage Award" for the pardon on 21 May 2001...
| JFK Presidential Library wrote: |
| President Gerald Ford was honored for his courage in making a controversial decision of conscience to pardon former President Richard M. Nixon. On September 8, 1974, President Ford granted a "full, free and absolute pardon" to former President Nixon "for all offenses against the United States which he...has committed or may have committed or taken part in" while he was president. Nixon accepted the pardon. The response from the press, Congress and the general public was overwhelmingly negative. Appearing before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, President Ford explained under oath, in the first sworn congressional testimony ever given by a sitting president, that there were no deals connected with the pardon. Ford wrote in his autobiography that Nixon's pardon "wasn't motivated primarily by sympathy for his plight or by concern over the state of his health. It was the state of the country�s health at home and around the world that worried me." In 1976, President Ford lost the White House to Jimmy Carter in one of the closest elections in American history. Many historians believe Ford�s pardon of Nixon contributed to his defeat. |
Here is Senator T. Kennedy's presentation of the award...
| Ted Kennedy wrote: |
At a time of national turmoil, America was fortunate that it was Gerald Ford who took the helm of the storm-tossed ship of state. Unlike many of us at the time, President Ford recognized that the nation had to move forward, and could not do so if there was a continuing effort to prosecute former President Nixon. So President Ford made a courageous decision, one that historians now say cost him his office, and he pardoned Richard Nixon.
I was one of those who spoke out against his action then. But time has a way of clarifying past events, and now we see that President Ford was right... |
Ford's acceptance speech...
| Gerald Ford wrote: |
| No doubt arguments over the Nixon pardon will continue for as long as historians relive those tumultuous days. But I would be less than candid - indeed, less than human - if I didn't tell you how profoundly grateful Betty and I are for this recognition... |
http://www.jfklibrary.org |
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cbclark4
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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Why? In his own words.
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/speechgfx/ford-pardon1.jpg
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/speechgfx/ford-pardon2.jpg
"The facts, as I see them, are that a former President of the United States, instead of enjoying equal treatment with any other citizen accused of violating the law, would be cruelly and excessively penalized either in preserving the presumption of his innocence or in obtaining a speedy determination of his guilt in order to repay a legal debt to society.
During this long period of delay and potential litigation, ugly passions would again be aroused. And our people would again be polarized in their opinions. And the credibility of our free institutions of government would again be challenged at home and abroad.
In the end, the courts might well hold that Richard Nixon had been denied due process, and the verdict of history would even be more inconclusive with respect to those charges arising out of the period of his Presidency, of which I am presently aware.
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. "
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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During this long period of delay and potential litigation, ugly passions would again be aroused. And our people would again be polarized in their opinions... My concern is the immediate future of this great country. "
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I think this is the core of it. From early '73 to August '74 the media was filled with reports of one aspect or another of Watergate. Increasingly, the government was paralyzed. It was not healthy for that to continue, and any court proceeding would have extended the crisis. There were domestic and foreign issues that needed to be dealt with. Getting Watergate over with was a legitimate priority.
Was there a 'deal'? I don't know. I also don't care. District Attorneys often hold their nose and make deals in order to serve the greater good. It's always a judgement call. The men who serve as presidents are there to make the hard decisions. Ford was president. He made a difficult decision. It cost him the presidency (most people agree he lost the '76 election because of it). I respect the man for doing what he thought was right, especially because I've never seen anything that indicates he did it for his personal (or political) gain.
[My biggest complaint about conspiracy theorists is that their claims automatically call into question the integrity of other people without real proof. It's slimey. Just because you have the power to write a libelous sentence on the internet doesn't give you the right to do it.] |
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stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:37 am Post subject: |
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Teddy has a habit of eating his words, but at least he was man enough to admit he's wrong.
Ford had conviction and was motivated by patriotism over ambition. Bush '40 was the same. Could use more like them these days: a class act. |
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cbclark4
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 7:53 am Post subject: |
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"President Gerald Ford was honored for his courage in making a controversial decision of conscience to pardon former President Richard M. Nixon. On September 8, 1974, President Ford granted a �full, free and absolute pardon� to former President Nixon �for all offenses against the United States which he...has committed or may have committed or taken part in� while he was president. Nixon accepted the pardon. The response from the press, Congress and the general public was overwhelmingly negative. Appearing before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, President Ford explained under oath, in the first sworn congressional testimony ever given by a sitting president, that there were no deals connected with the pardon. Ford wrote in his autobiography that Nixon's pardon �wasn't motivated primarily by sympathy for his plight or by concern over the state of his health. It was the state of the country�s health at home and around the world that worried me.� In 1976, President Ford lost the White House to Jimmy Carter in one of the closest elections in American history. Many historians believe Ford�s pardon of Nixon contributed to his defeat."
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Award+Recipients/Gerald+Ford/
"Remarks by Senator Edward M. Kennedy"
"I'm honored to be here today with President Gerald R. Ford, the winner of this year�s Profile in Courage Award, and Congressman John Lewis, the recipient of the Profile in Courage Lifetime Achievement Award.
Today we honor two outstanding leaders who withstood the heat of controversy and persevered in their beliefs about what was in our country�s best interests. History has proved them right.
This is the 12th year of this annual award, and I am proud that it has become so recognized as symbol of noble public service. It was inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by President Kennedy, and it was instituted to celebrate his life and his belief that political courage must be valued and honored.
We hope that the Profile in Courage awards will encourage young men and women to enter public service -- and that it will inspire political leaders at the local, state, and national level to dare to take on even the most difficult issues, and demonstrate their own devotion to high principle....
...I was one of those who spoke out against his action then. But time has a way of clarifying past events, and now we see that President Ford was right. His courage and dedication to our country made it possible for us to begin the process of healing and put the tragedy of Watergate behind us. He eminently deserves this award, and we are proud of his achievement."
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Award+Recipients/Gerald+Ford/Remarks+by+Senator+Edward+M.+Kennedy.htm
cbc |
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