President Ford’s Pardon President Ford’s Pardon of Richard M. Nixon: The of Richard M. Nixon: The

Complete Story of the Complete Story of the Pardon, the Press, and Pardon, the Press, and

the Congress the Congress Jason Phillip HartmannJason Phillip Hartmann

WATERGATEWATERGATE

There were five burglars who broke There were five burglars who broke into the Democratic National into the Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate Headquarters in the Watergate building on June 17, 1972. They were building on June 17, 1972. They were eventually linked the Committee to eventually linked the Committee to Reelect the President and to the Reelect the President and to the highest members of the White highest members of the White House.House.

ResignationResignation

On August 8, 1974, Richard M. Nixon resigned on television. On August 8, 1974, Richard M. Nixon resigned on television.

Gerald Ford became President of the United States.Gerald Ford became President of the United States.

Policy of OpennessPolicy of Openness Ford came into office wanting to create a open exchange Ford came into office wanting to create a open exchange

between the press and the White House.between the press and the White House. He planned to hold press conferences every three weeks.He planned to hold press conferences every three weeks. He moved his press briefings to the Grand Hallway of the He moved his press briefings to the Grand Hallway of the

White House instead of the traditional location in front of a White House instead of the traditional location in front of a blue, imperial looking backdrop.blue, imperial looking backdrop.

He hired Jerald terHorst to be his press secretary. He was a He hired Jerald terHorst to be his press secretary. He was a member of the press and the reporters were comfortable member of the press and the reporters were comfortable with his honesty.with his honesty.

Ford’s First Press Ford’s First Press ConferenceConference

Ford came into his first press conference with high hopes and Ford came into his first press conference with high hopes and expectations that he could answer questions about the economy, expectations that he could answer questions about the economy, foreign policy, and the new directions that he would take the country. foreign policy, and the new directions that he would take the country.

He was asked many questions about the economy and foreign policy.He was asked many questions about the economy and foreign policy.

Ford was asked several questions about Nixon, a potential pardon, Ford was asked several questions about Nixon, a potential pardon, and what he planned to do with Nixon’s tapes.and what he planned to do with Nixon’s tapes.

Ford was angry after the press conference because he felt the Ford was angry after the press conference because he felt the country only wanted to focus on Nixon.country only wanted to focus on Nixon.

Ford was very intent on healing the nation and wanted to shut the Ford was very intent on healing the nation and wanted to shut the book on Nixon for good.book on Nixon for good.

Ford Gathers His StaffFord Gathers His Staff Ford gathered his staff of Philip Buchen, Henry Kissenger, Jack Ford gathered his staff of Philip Buchen, Henry Kissenger, Jack

Marsh, Robert Hartmann, and Alexander Haig to discuss the press Marsh, Robert Hartmann, and Alexander Haig to discuss the press conference.conference.

Ford indicated that he was eager to move the country forward and Ford indicated that he was eager to move the country forward and was considering pardoning Nixon.was considering pardoning Nixon.

Haig, Kissenger, and Buchen thought it was a good idea.Haig, Kissenger, and Buchen thought it was a good idea. Marsh and Hartmann thought the timing was too soon.Marsh and Hartmann thought the timing was too soon.

HaigHaig HartmannHartmann MarshMarsh KissingerKissinger

Buchen, California, and the Buchen, California, and the TapesTapes

Ford’s next move was to have Buchen look into Ford’s next move was to have Buchen look into the possibility of pardoning Nixon before he had the possibility of pardoning Nixon before he had been indicted. been indicted.

Ford sent Benton Becker to California to settle the Ford sent Benton Becker to California to settle the tapes controversey.tapes controversey.

The result was that Nixon had acess to the tapes The result was that Nixon had acess to the tapes in a California facility that only he and the in a California facility that only he and the General Accounting Office had keys to. He was General Accounting Office had keys to. He was not allowed to remove documents.not allowed to remove documents.

The PardonThe Pardon Thirty days after Nixon resigned Ford gave him a pardon for all possible Thirty days after Nixon resigned Ford gave him a pardon for all possible

crimes committed while President of the United States. The press reaction crimes committed while President of the United States. The press reaction was negative for the Ford White House. The leaders of Congress were was negative for the Ford White House. The leaders of Congress were furious and it destroyed Republican candidates in the midterm elections.furious and it destroyed Republican candidates in the midterm elections.

Speculation of a Deal?Speculation of a Deal? There is speculation that a deal was made between Ford There is speculation that a deal was made between Ford

and Haig during an August 1, 1974 meeting.and Haig during an August 1, 1974 meeting. In this meeting Haig was asking Ford for advice on how to In this meeting Haig was asking Ford for advice on how to

advise Nixon.advise Nixon. Haig brought up the issue of the pardon and Ford did not Haig brought up the issue of the pardon and Ford did not

react negatively which leads many to believe that Ford had react negatively which leads many to believe that Ford had indicated to Haig that he was open to the idea.indicated to Haig that he was open to the idea.

There is no evidence of a deal.There is no evidence of a deal.

Press Reaction IPress Reaction IThe three major authors on the Ford pardon are Robert The three major authors on the Ford pardon are Robert Mollenhoff, John Robert Greene, and James Cannon.Mollenhoff, John Robert Greene, and James Cannon.

Each of these authors indicate that the press reaction to the Each of these authors indicate that the press reaction to the pardon was totally negative and that no media outlets pardon was totally negative and that no media outlets supported the pardon.supported the pardon.

This is entirely untrue, these authors exaggerate the press This is entirely untrue, these authors exaggerate the press reaction because they only used the New York Times and reaction because they only used the New York Times and Washington Post for research.Washington Post for research.

These authors also completely ignore the international These authors also completely ignore the international press reaction which was divided.press reaction which was divided.

Press Reaction IIPress Reaction II

Gerald R. Ford Library Findings:Gerald R. Ford Library Findings:– Press reaction to pardon was negative primarily but not Press reaction to pardon was negative primarily but not

totally negative.totally negative.– Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Shreveport Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Shreveport

Journal, Charleson News and Courier, and the Journal, Charleson News and Courier, and the Birmingham News ran favorable stories on the pardon. Birmingham News ran favorable stories on the pardon.

– International newspapers: Fiagro of Paris, Aftenpostem International newspapers: Fiagro of Paris, Aftenpostem of Oslo, Daily Mail of London, Daily Express of London, of Oslo, Daily Mail of London, Daily Express of London, and the Financial Times of London all were supportive of and the Financial Times of London all were supportive of the pardon. the pardon.

– As said before, the Washington Post and New York Times As said before, the Washington Post and New York Times were very vocal in their opposition to the pardon.were very vocal in their opposition to the pardon.

Congressional ReactionCongressional Reaction Congress on as a whole was against the pardon.Congress on as a whole was against the pardon.

– Democrats were more vocal than Republicans. Democrats were more vocal than Republicans. – Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY) called for hearings on Ford’s decision. Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY) called for hearings on Ford’s decision. – Senators Kennedy, Hart, Mondale, and Ervin were the most critical.Senators Kennedy, Hart, Mondale, and Ervin were the most critical.– Republican Lowell Weicker (CT) was very opposed to the pardon.Republican Lowell Weicker (CT) was very opposed to the pardon.– Republican Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania was the most high Republican Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania was the most high

profile Republican to praise the pardon.profile Republican to praise the pardon.

Abzug Hart Ervin Weicker ScottAbzug Hart Ervin Weicker Scott

Congressional Reaction IICongressional Reaction II

Congress also acted by passing Congress also acted by passing Senate Resolution 401.Senate Resolution 401.

– Advised Ford not to pardon any other Advised Ford not to pardon any other Watergate defendants.Watergate defendants.

Why did Ford pardon Nixon?Why did Ford pardon Nixon?

Ford was obsessed with healing the Nation.Ford was obsessed with healing the Nation. August 28, 1974 Press Conference angered August 28, 1974 Press Conference angered

Ford and he wanted to clear Nixon out of Ford and he wanted to clear Nixon out of the picture.the picture.

Ford did not think Americans could focus on Ford did not think Americans could focus on economy and real issues while hearing economy and real issues while hearing about Nixon’s trial.about Nixon’s trial.

Ford had a tendency to get angry and come Ford had a tendency to get angry and come to rushed decisions and forget the to rushed decisions and forget the consequences.consequences.

ConsequencesConsequences

Republicans lost 4 Senate seats and 48 Republicans lost 4 Senate seats and 48 House seats in the 1974 midterm House seats in the 1974 midterm elections.elections.

Negative press from both major papers Negative press from both major papers doomed his chances of winning in 1976.doomed his chances of winning in 1976.

Photo’sPhoto’s Picture 1: www.bartleby.com/ 124/nixon.gifPicture 1: www.bartleby.com/ 124/nixon.gif Picture 2: www.pbs.org/.../ peopleevents/images/nixon.jpgPicture 2: www.pbs.org/.../ peopleevents/images/nixon.jpg Picture 3: images.usatoday.com/ life/cyber/_photos/nixon-.Picture 3: images.usatoday.com/ life/cyber/_photos/nixon-. Picture 4: www.americanrhetoric.com/.../ geraldfordoath.jpegPicture 4: www.americanrhetoric.com/.../ geraldfordoath.jpeg Picture 5: Picture 5:

http://www.brooksinternational.com/images/general_alexander_hahttp://www.brooksinternational.com/images/general_alexander_haig.jpgig.jpg

Picture 6: Picture 6: http://bhhs.beverlyhills.k12.ca.us/alums/hall/alumpix/hartmann.jpghttp://bhhs.beverlyhills.k12.ca.us/alums/hall/alumpix/hartmann.jpg

Picture 7: www.su.edu/marsh/ JackMarsh.jpgPicture 7: www.su.edu/marsh/ JackMarsh.jpg Picture 8: Picture 8:

http://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~s0106687/images/Home-Kisshttp://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~s0106687/images/Home-Kissenger.jpgenger.jpg

Picture 9: www.wbrtv.com/hosts/ images/haig_ford.jpgPicture 9: www.wbrtv.com/hosts/ images/haig_ford.jpg Pictures 10-14: Pictures 10-14:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfmcfm

Picture 15: www.nebraskahistory.org/ images/sites/ford.jpgPicture 15: www.nebraskahistory.org/ images/sites/ford.jpg