Word: pardoners
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Gerald Ford demonstrated one refreshing presidential trait last week: when the heat is on, he does not flee the kitchen. Despite the outcry over his premature pardon of Richard Nixon, Ford held the second press conference of his presidency-in prime televiewing time. Apart from some touchy questions about the CIA in Chile, most of the questions (16 out of 20) related to Nixon. Most of the questioners implied, and some said with insulting directness, that Ford had been deceptive and devious in reaching his decision. The President unflinchingly stood his ground...
...some undisclosed reason that made him shift so abruptly and free Nixon from prosecution? "I had no secret reason," Ford replied. But wasn't Nixon guilty of an impeachable offense? Ford found the unanimous report of the House Judiciary Committee "very persuasive" and conceded that acceptance of a pardon "can be construed ... as an admission of guilt." Ford thought it was sufficient that Nixon had been "shamed and disgraced...
...health were not a major factor ("I was more anxious to heal the nation"). He conceded that new negotiations were under way with Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski on the controversial arrangement under which Nixon would retain effective control of his tapes and presidential papers. As for the pardon, however, "there was no understanding, no deal, between me and the former President." Ford admitted that "the decision has created more antagonism than I anticipated...
Inevitably, Ford was asked why he gave a full pardon to Nixon and only conditional amnesty to Viet Nam War evaders. Ford said that he saw no real connection between the two-hardly a convincing reply. Overall, it was a gutsy performance under fire, although Ford's explanation of the timing of the pardon remained thoroughly unsatisfying...
...Healing the nation's wounds" seems to be the great slogan of the highly-touted "post-Watergate era." The events of the last few weeks--the pardon of Nixon, the refusal of amnesty, Ford's defense of the CIA in Chile and appeals for aid to Thieu--show how selectively President Ford means this policy. But even at its best it wouldn't be enough. A patient with a malignant tumor doesn't worry first about wounds made by the surgeon's knife: those wounds will heal by themselves, when the tumor is gone. The slogans of the pre-Watergate...