Word: pardoner
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...practical bargaining leverage, Ford meekly yielded. Columnist Mary McGrory wrote last week that "Ford is still Vice President where Nixon is concerned." Ford does indeed have a reputation for speaking before an issue is thought through, and the fact that he apparently consulted very few people on the pardon makes this theory more believable...
Once Ford learned that a Nixon trial would probably not begin until late in 1975 and that appeals might take even longer to resolve, he knew that he might face the pardon issue uncomfortably close to his own campaign for election to the presidency in 1976. Rather than raise all of the old Watergate divisions through a pardon then, he decided to act now, clearing his personal political decks of the Nixon issue well in advance, freeing himself from having questions on Nixon raised at every press conference. There is no evidence for this theory at all, other than Ford...
...Clair's instructions, Haig advised Haldeman to put his appeal in writing. Haldeman and Ehrlichman's attorneys promptly submitted a memo. But Nixon was irritated by the whole incident, thought it was a bad time to pressure him, considering his own difficulties, and rejected any pardon. Ehrlichman tried a different tactic, telephoning Friend Julie Eisenhower, but he made no better progress. Sourly, and with no supporting evidence, one associate of the two aides concluded: "It's possible that Nixon turned his back on Haldeman and Ehrlichman because his own pardon deal was set and he didn't want to queer...
Also injured during the hectic week was the silver-haired, mild-mannered Buchen, who tried to brief reporters on the pardon decision, but seemed uncertain and unaware of the full implications (see THE PRESS). When
Whatever the justification for the presidential pardon of Richard Nixon, President Ford erred grievously in sanctioning an agreement that gives Nixon control over access to his tapes and papers. Under its terms, only Nixon has the right to authorize the special prosecutor or anyone else to examine the vast, as yet largely untapped documentation of the Nixon years in the White House. Government permission is not required, though the Government is allowed to object on national security or other grounds to giving someone access to any of the materials...