Should Ford Have Pardoned Nixon? Gerald Ford, a leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives, was approved by the Senate to serve as Richard Nixon’s vice-president when its initial occupant, Spiro Agnew, resigned. As Nixon’s participation in the Watergate scandal became clearer and impeachment was imminent, he resigned. This made Ford, who the public had elected neither president nor vice-president, the most powerful man in the country. A month into his presidency, Ford issued a pardon for Nixon before any criminal charges could commence. From that day to this, political pundits and historians have questioned whether Ford took the correct course of action. Step 1: First, learn more about the pardon. You can find lots of good primary sources about the Nixon pardon—including many that are very critical of President Ford’s decision—at the website for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.Links to an external site. Of particular interest are: Memo from Leonard Garment to Philip Buchen Regarding Consideration of a PardonLinks to an external site., August 28, 1974 Reading Copy of President Ford’s Pardon MessageLinks to an external site., September 8, 1974 The sample reaction letters sent by various citizens to President Ford regarding the pardon, both pro and con. Children’s Letter from Anthony Ferreira (Neutral)Links to an external site. Children’s Letter from Robert Lind (Pro)Links to an external site. Children’s Letter from Robert B. Zelvin (Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Johnny Cash (Pro)Links to an external site. Letter from Ann C. Gannett, with response Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Alan Ludden, with response(Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Robert W. McNeely, with response (Pro)Links to an external site. Letter from Frank Murray (Pro)Links to an external site. Letter from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Dr. Benjamin Spock (Con)Links to an external site. Step 2: In the discussion forum, answer the following prompt: Select one of four responses to the question “should President Ford have pardoned President Nixon?”: Yes No Yes, but… No, but… In a short paragraph, explain your reasoning, informed by your overall understanding of the 1970s from the text. Defend your answer with evidence. If you use outside sources, others may not be familiar with; please include a link so that your ideas can be traced.

Should Ford Have Pardoned Nixon? Gerald Ford, a leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives, was approved by the Senate to serve as Richard Nixon’s vice-president when its initial occupant, Spiro Agnew, resigned. As Nixon’s participation in the Watergate scandal became clearer and impeachment was imminent, he resigned. This made Ford, who the public had elected neither president nor vice-president, the most powerful man in the country. A month into his presidency, Ford issued a pardon for Nixon before any criminal charges could commence. From that day to this, political pundits and historians have questioned whether Ford took the correct course of action. Step 1: First, learn more about the pardon. You can find lots of good primary sources about the Nixon pardon—including many that are very critical of President Ford’s decision—at the website for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.Links to an external site. Of particular interest are: Memo from Leonard Garment to Philip Buchen Regarding Consideration of a PardonLinks to an external site., August 28, 1974 Reading Copy of President Ford’s Pardon MessageLinks to an external site., September 8, 1974 The sample reaction letters sent by various citizens to President Ford regarding the pardon, both pro and con. Children’s Letter from Anthony Ferreira (Neutral)Links to an external site. Children’s Letter from Robert Lind (Pro)Links to an external site. Children’s Letter from Robert B. Zelvin (Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Johnny Cash (Pro)Links to an external site. Letter from Ann C. Gannett, with response Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Alan Ludden, with response(Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Robert W. McNeely, with response (Pro)Links to an external site. Letter from Frank Murray (Pro)Links to an external site. Letter from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (Con)Links to an external site. Letter from Dr. Benjamin Spock (Con)Links to an external site. Step 2: In the discussion forum, answer the following prompt: Select one of four responses to the question “should President Ford have pardoned President Nixon?”: Yes No Yes, but… No, but… In a short paragraph, explain your reasoning, informed by your overall understanding of the 1970s from the text. Defend your answer with evidence. If you use outside sources, others may not be familiar with; please include a link so that your ideas can be traced.

Should Ford Have Pardoned Nixon?

Gerald Ford, a leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives, was approved by the Senate to serve as Richard Nixon’s vice-president when its initial occupant, Spiro Agnew, resigned. As Nixon’s participation in the Watergate scandal became clearer and impeachment was imminent, he resigned. This made Ford, who the public had elected neither president nor vice-president, the most powerful man in the country. A month into his presidency, Ford issued a pardon for Nixon before any criminal charges could commence. From that day to this, political pundits and historians have questioned whether Ford took the correct course of action.

Step 1: First, learn more about the pardon. You can find lots of good primary sources about the Nixon pardon—including many that are very critical of President Ford’s decision—at the website for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.Links to an external site. Of particular interest are:

Memo from Leonard Garment to Philip Buchen Regarding Consideration of a PardonLinks to an external site., August 28, 1974
Reading Copy of President Ford’s Pardon MessageLinks to an external site., September 8, 1974
The sample reaction letters sent by various citizens to President Ford regarding the pardon, both pro and con.
- Children’s Letter from Anthony Ferreira (Neutral)Links to an external site.
- Children’s Letter from Robert Lind (Pro)Links to an external site.
- Children’s Letter from Robert B. Zelvin (Con)Links to an external site.
- Letter from Johnny Cash (Pro)Links to an external site.
- Letter from Ann C. Gannett, with response Con)Links to an external site.
- Letter from Alan Ludden, with response(Con)Links to an external site.
- Letter from Robert W. McNeely, with response (Pro)Links to an external site.
- Letter from Frank Murray (Pro)Links to an external site.
- Letter from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (Con)Links to an external site.
- Letter from Dr. Benjamin Spock (Con)Links to an external site.

Step 2: In the discussion forum, answer the following prompt:

Select one of four responses to the question “should President Ford have pardoned President Nixon?”:
- Yes
- No
- Yes, but…
- No, but…

In a short paragraph, explain your reasoning, informed by your overall understanding of the 1970s from the text. Defend your answer with evidence.

If you use outside sources, others may not be familiar with; please include a link so that your ideas can be traced.

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