![]() ![]() A group of liberal Democrats, in particular, wanted to learn more about the pardon-and especially whether Ford had discussed Nixon's pardon with the ex-President or his staff. Just as important, members of Congress from both parties reacted angrily to the pardon. Ford's popularity plummeted in public opinion polls, dropping from the high sixties into the high thirties. Observers also questioned Ford's judgment in pardoning Nixon so soon after taking office, with one Republican senator asking a presidential aide, "doesn't he have any sense of timing?" Indeed, his first press secretary, Jerald terHorst, resigned in protest over Ford's decision. Polls showed that most Americans wanted Nixon punished. Instead Ford's pardon of Nixon touched off a firestorm of protest. Ford clearly hoped that the pardon would bring a sense of closure to the whole sordid affair. Ford media center trial#Privately, Ford worried that a trial would seriously harm his ability to govern, and he yearned for a presidency free from daily questions about the fate of Richard Nixon. Ford told Americans on September 8, 1974, that he had granted the pardon because Nixon had suffered enough, because the threat of prosecution was damaging Nixon's health, and because a trial of the ex-President would reignite bitter and divisive passions and prevent the country from moving forward. for all offenses" Nixon committed, or "may have committed," while President. The new President, however, re-opened old wounds when, exactly one month into his tenure, he granted Richard Nixon a "full, free, and absolute pardon. Pardoning Richard Nixonįord's ascent to the presidency implicitly promised the end of the Watergate scandal. These negative portrayals, however, tarnished Ford's image and standing with the American public. An all-Big Ten football player, Ford was certainly one of the most athletic Presidents in history. In fact, Ford had, indeed, fallen upon exiting Air Force One in Austria, but Chase's act-which Ford later admitted was funny-was unfair. Journalists often joined in the ridicule, circulating Lyndon Johnson's remark that Ford had played too much football without his helmet. Comedian Chevy Chase impersonated Ford every week on the popular television show "Saturday Night Live," stumbling and falling down stairs, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, and accidentally injuring himself and innocent bystanders. Within months of taking office, he had become something of a comic figure. He toasted his own English muffins in the morning, opened doors for himself, and talked casually to White House security guards.įord was not entirely successful in maintaining this image, however. Ford attempted to cultivate this image with the public by inviting the press to see his common-man, next-door-neighbor lifestyle. He thus was uniquely situated to lead the country in the aftermath of Watergate. And Congress was determined to take back some of the power it had ceded to the President over the previous four decades.įord had risen through the Republican ranks in Congress in large part because of his reputation for decency, integrity, and fairness, and his willingness to compromise. The public, by all accounts, was demanding honesty and accountability from its political leaders. Just as important, the Watergate scandal had profoundly altered the political environment. Fiscal problems were hampering a number of state and city governments, and divisive social issues-such as busing, abortion, and women's rights-were splintering the American polity. The American economy was sputtering, with both inflation and unemployment on the rise. The future, however, held many challenges and uncertainties. After taking the oath of office to become the thirty-eighth President of the United States, Gerald Ford forthrightly declared, "Our long national nightmare is over." With this simple statement, the new President both recognized the anguish caused by Watergate and indicated that he intended to lead the country forward. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |