Was Gerald Ford right to pardon Richard Nixon?

[bluestateguy]

He's about to be on NBC News here in a few minutes (in the CST and EST)

[Braden]

1. yes

if you are Nixon!

[Wcross]

2. Out

He was out of office a shamed man. Justice was served.

[KG]

3. yes. in the case of RMN it was the right thing to do.

and i think nixon was scumbag.

because, in the grand scheme of politics, his crimes of inter-party espionage were minor, and there was nothing to be gained by the kind public spectacle a trial would have produced.

[Elidor]

8. Minor???

Using the FBI, CIA and IRS to harrass your political enemies is not minor. The bastard belonged in a cell. The ONLY reason he was not incarcerated was the very practical consideration of how that would weaken the presidency.

[MissMillie]

17. I agree. (n/t)

.

[roguevalley]

4. it set the wrong precedent

some people don't go to jail no matter what they do and no
matter who and what it affects.

Bush won't go to jail for the murder he's committed because
of this precedent.

[Skittles]

5. YES

Nixon was already going down in history as a corrupt SOB. That was punishment enough.

[CO Liberal]

15. But He Re-Emerged as an "Elder Statesman"

And a hero to many Republicans.

He should have rotted in a prison cell somewhere.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. No.

Ford was wrong.

[bluestateguy]

7. kick

:kick:

[blondeatlast]

9. Hard as it is to accept, yes he did. But why is RMN becoming a hero

now?

Very disillusioning time for a coming-of-age liberal. Still, once Nixon resigned, it was like a huge breath of fresh air for the nation. Besides, if Nixon had not resigned (and I don't believe he would have without the promise of the pardon) we might still be in Vietnam.

Those of us who remember those days know that our voices can make a difference.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Yes.

Ford was a brave man to do this because it allowed the country to move on. Nothing would have been served in prolonging this shameful episode in our history. Also, it cost him the election.

Ford is the one Republican that I have some affection for. Did you know that he and Carter have become good friends? They have been involved in several projects together.

[JohnKleeb]

19. Yeah I respect him too

I know they work together.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. I saw Gerald Ford just tonight making some kind of speech

I know he had been unwell, but was surprised at how old he looked. I always felt that he was a kind man, with a good heart, despite the fact he was a Republican. He has values that the current administration has never considered. As you can probably tell, Jimmy Carter is a particular favorite of mine, so I was pleased to learn that these two had become friends and were involved in good works together.:-)

[JohnKleeb]

21. yeah I was too

Jerry IMO doesnt look that old to me hes like 90 now. Yes I know you like Carter hes one of my favorites too and also I noticed that his intials are JC well another JC of course is Jesus Christ. Personally I would rather go hang out with Jerry and drink a beer lol than go drink one with Bush. Ford wasnt Christian Right either. He was also self made which is admirable and probably had one of the more tougher childhoods at least intially. His parents divorced and his father harassed his mother. He wasnt the best president ever but he wasnt a big asshole too.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. I am a yes vote on this

If you asked me if Clinton was right to drop Iran/Contra, however, my vote would be an emphatic NO!

My reasons are similar to those already expressed given the time in our nation. Now, however, I think we are at an impasse and should be looking into actual treason.

[SyracuseDemocrat]

12. No, and here's why.

Nixon never apologized. You should never pardon a man who won't apologize for his crimes. Had he apologized I would have supported his pardon

[tokenlib]

13. At the time I was really pissed off........

...and wanted to see Nixon get convicted of crimes. But over the years, I have decided that it was the best choice Ford could have made. The humiliation of resigning was a punishing burden for Nixon.
And it was better for the country to move forward.

[cosmicdot]

14. well, I wrote Ford wishing he hadn't - I was teaching HS

social studies ... I don't think it sent the best lesson to those we were trying to instill civic responsibility and other values ... didn't even get a thank you for contacting the White House ... and, the different standards of crime and punishment for the haves and have nots were, certainly, accentuated ... who knows the long-term damage ... plus, in restrospect, many of All the President's Men got to play it again, Sam ...... now, on strike 3 ... or is it 4 (counting JFK) ... the cancer needs to be removed ...

[noonwitch]

16. Yes-the country needed to move forward.

I understand the punish Nixon argument, especially in hindsight. At the time, with the knowledge he had, it was the best decision he could make.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. I'm surprised at the votes

I thought everyone believed that it was the best thing to just move on.:shrug: