Didn’t need to.
You think he chose Ford as his successor for the hell of it?
Read that pdf I linked above.
Ford at the same time issued a conditional pardon for Vietnam war resisters (which Carter made unconditional upon entering office). Again, no conviction or indictment required.
I thought Ford succeded him because he was Vice President. I suppose Nixon picked him knowing he would need a pardon. Since I don’t really know that much about Watergate I’ll bow out of this part.
I read the pdf and it doesn’t say that the President can’t pardon himself. Does that mean that he can? If so I will say again that it seems really odd.
I I were the kind of guy Bush is, I wouldn’t. He believes he’s done the right and necessary things and I doubt he believes he’s broken any laws, so he’s unlikely to pardon himself, seeing as how that admits guilt.
That’s harder to say.
But I think you’ll find that it says his pardoning power is absolute. Which means he can pardon himself - except for impeachable situations.
Nixon VP, Spiro Agnew was nailed for bribe taking while in office. This happened when Nixon was at the height of his Watergate problems. Agnew resigned, and Tricky Dick chose Ford for the job. The pardon followed.
Can someone link me to a story on “those two border patrol guys”?
No. There is no plausible scenario in which he would be tried under U.S. federal law for anything he has done as president. The most he has to fear is a fact-finding investigation, and a pardon would not prevent that.
Nitpick: Congressional leaders recommended Ford to Nixon.
What is the implication?
According to the New York Times, “In 1973, when Spiro Agnew resigned the vice presidency after a scandal unrelated to Watergate, Mr. Nixon sought advice from senior Congressional leaders about a replacement. The advice was unanimous. ‘We gave Nixon no choice but Ford,’ House Speaker Carl Albert recalled later.” So while Nixon did choose Ford, it was at the suggestion of Congressional leaders.
Okay.
But I’d still like to know what this is supposed to mean. That the leaders got a guarantee from Ford to pardon Nixon before Nixon talked to Ford?
No. You suggested in post 21 that Nixon’s appointment of Ford involved an agreement by Ford to pardon Nixon. I’m saying that that this is incorrect, that Ford made no such agreement.
How do you know that Ford made no such agreement?
The Times story doesn’t seem to suggest it. Just because the leaders gave Nixon one choice, didn’t mean he had to accept it.
And do you think Nixon said, “Well that sounds good!. Tell him I accept him as my VP.”
Gerald Ford was invented for the saying,“He can’t chew gum and walk at the same time.”
Be assured the two talked and Ford promised Nixon a pardon. Nixon was in deep shit, but no one would accuse him of being stupid.
:rolleyes:
Would you care to explain?
Nonsense. Ford was quite capable. Just didn’t have a chance in 1976, because his administration was seen too much as a continuation of Nixon’s (and a lot of people were upset about the pardon).
Less than 24 hours to go.
The two border patrol dudes were pardoned in the last half hour or so, I believe.
Sentences commuted. They’ll be released March 20. Not quite a full pardon.
Yeah, looks like. The “breaking news” banner was a bit misleading.