Video: 'Remarks on Signing Proclamation Granting Pardon to Nixon (September 8, 1974)'
(Sunday, September 8, 1974, 11:04 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — In a controversial move that could shape his legacy and political future, U.S. President Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed during his time in office.
The announcement was made this morning during a nationally televised speech from the Oval Office.
“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,” Ford stated.
Video: 'The Sensational 70s: 1974 (The Events of 1974)' (Ford pardons Nixon at 14:05)
He emphasized the need to end the Watergate scandal, saying, “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.”
Ford argued that Nixon could not receive a fair trial due to the intense publicity surrounding the case.
“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,” he said. “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.”
The pardon exempts Nixon from indictment and trial for his role in the Watergate cover-up.
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Nixon, from his home in San Clemente, California, accepted the pardon, acknowledging his mistakes in handling the scandal.
The decision sparked a sharp divide in public opinion. Most Democrats expressed disapproval, while many Republicans supported Ford. Notably, Senators Edward Brooke of Massachusetts and Jacob Javits of New York opposed the pardon.
White House counsel Philip Buchen explained that the decision was made without input from Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski, who estimated a trial for Nixon would be delayed by at least nine months due to extensive pretrial publicity.
Ford’s decision marks a significant departure from his initial stance upon assuming the presidency.
Reports of Nixon’s declining health and statements from high-ranking Republicans, including Vice President-designate Nelson Rockefeller, influenced Ford’s action. He framed the pardon as an act of mercy, hoping to unite the nation.
President Ford’s announcement was made on a quiet Sunday morning after attending communion at St. John’s Episcopal Church. He stressed the difficulty of his decision, emphasizing the need to move forward and heal the nation.
“Theirs 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,” Ford said, underscoring the unprecedented nature of his decision.
