Word: forded
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...that night, the reaction on which Haig told me the President's decision would depend had become plain for all to see. The Senate Republican whip, Robert Griffin, asked for Nixon's resignation. Vice President Ford dissociated himself, saying: "The public interest is no longer served by repetition of my previously expressed belief that on the basis of all the evidence known to me, the President is not guilty of an impeachable offense...
Tuesday morning, Aug. 6, the Cabinet met at 11. It was obvious that as far as the Cabinet was concerned, Nixon was on his way out. Cabinet members crowded around Ford-not the usual scene at such meetings, where the Vice President is treated politely but as a supernumerary. I was sitting in my place to the right of the presidential chair when Nixon walked in. I had spent too many hours with him not to sense his panic...
Papers were being shuffled amid much fidgeting when Ford at last ended the impasse: "Mr. President, with your indulgence I have something to say." Nixon nodded, and Ford continued: "Everyone here recognizes the difficult position I'm in. No one regrets more than I do this whole tragic episode. I have deep personal sympathy for you, Mr. President, and your fine family. But had I known what has been disclosed in reference to Watergate in the last 24 hours, I would not have made a number of the statements I made. I'll have no further comment...
Nixon seemed to hear only the comment about inflation. He picked up a proposal Ford had floated a few days earlier of a summit of business and labor leaders to overcome inflation. Attorney General William Saxbe interrupted: "Mr. President, I don't think we ought to have a summit conference. We ought to be sure you have the ability to govern." George Bush, then chairman of the Republican National Committee, took up the theme. The Republican Party, he said, was in a shambles; the forthcoming congressional election threatened disaster. Watergate had to be brought to an end expeditiously. Everyone...
Thursday Morning, Aug. 8, resignation was transmuted from the tragic to the routine. Haig told me that Nixon would see Ford at 11 a.m. to tell him formally of his plan to resign. Some Cabinet members called, asking whether they should publicly announce their readiness to continue in office. I counseled against it; they should not deprive the new President of options...