In early September 1974, Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon for any crimes committed during his presidency.
If Nixon had been a Democratic president, I doubt Ford would ever have pardoned him for the same offenses and most likely would have stated that the person needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law so this never happens again.
George Bush pardoned all those involved with Iran-Contra before they were to go to trial.
Congress asked Ford why he made this decision.
Q: Mr. Ford, you’ve stated that the theory on which you pardoned Richard Nixon was that he had suffered enough, and I am interested in that theory because the logical consequence of that is that somebody who resigns in the face of virtually certain impeachment or somebody who is impeached should not be punished because the impeachment or the resignation in face of impeachment is punishment enough, and I wondered whether anybody had brought to your attention the fact that the Constitution specifically states that even though somebody is impeached, that person shall nonetheless be liable to punishment according to law.
Mrs. Holtzman, I was fully cognizant of the fact that the president, on resignation, was accountable for any criminal charges, but I would like to say that the reason I gave the pardon was not as to Mr. Nixon himself.
I repeat and I repeat with emphasis, the purpose of the pardon was to try and get the United States, the Congress, the president, and the American people focusing on the serious problems we have both at home and abroad, and I was absolutely convinced then as I am now that if we had had this series, an indictment, a trial, a conviction, and anything else that transpired after that, that the attention of the president, the Congress, and the American people would have been diverted from the problems that we have to solve, and that was the principal reason for my granting of the pardon.
The country can do many things at once and chew gum at the same time.
Nixon was a criminal and a horrible man.
Open thread.