My Thoughts on Gerald Ford and the Pardon of Nixon
L. Scott Schultz, President

I was a student intern working on Capitol Hill in 1973 when Gerald Ford was appointed to replace the disgraced then Vice President, Spiro Agnew. Mired in Watergate and a seemingly endless war in Vietnam, Nixon picked the most popular man in the House of Representatives, Gerald Ford, as the man to restore credibility and integrity to his administration. Each Congressional Office received only one ticket to the swearing in ceremony and I was given the prized seat in the gallery. As the new Vice President was introduced, the chamber echoed with wild cheers of approval from Ford’s colleagues, friends and admirers. There may have been two sides of the aisle, but they stood together that night for “Gerry”. It was an amazing experience, especially for a twenty year old with political stars in his eyes, and it has always endeared me to the “Gentleman from Michigan”.

As Ford was introduced as Vice President, Nixon stood uncomfortably at his side. They were the odd couple. Nixon kept trying to pull Ford close to him as they waved to the audience, but Ford would have no part of it. He wasn’t rude, to be sure, but this was his moment basking under the lights in the House he called home. He politely separated himself from Nixon on the podium – a sign, perhaps, of things to come.

I think everyone in the gallery that night knew that it was only a matter of time for the unraveling administration and that, inevitably, Ford would replace Nixon. So it was no surprise, months later, when Ford took over and the first step was taken, as he put it, to end our “national nightmare”.

Ford’s popularity carried over after the resignation and his appointment lifted the country at a time when it was needed most. He was the right man at the right time and the ascendancy of this regular guy made us feel like there was hope for the future.

Unfortunately, “Gerry” burst our bubble only a month after he took office when he pardoned Richard Nixon.

Historians this week, looking back on his life, are saying that Ford did the right thing. That only in granting the pardon could he have healed our nation… but I wonder.

What if Ford hadn’t pardoned Nixon? If Nixon had suffered the humiliation of a criminal trial – and possibly even gone to jail – where would we be today? How would his successors have handled themselves differently as a result? The term “impeachable offenses” would mean something if Ford hadn’t pardoned Nixon. Presidents 39 thru 43 would have respected their offices, and the American people, if they knew they could truly be held accountable for their actions. Would we be in Iraq today if President Bush – and all of the ex-Ford staffers who surround him – really understood the ramifications of lying to Congress and the public? What about our future Presidents? Will they think they can get away with anything, because Nixon did?

I admired Gerry Ford. He was a true American patriot who served his country as much as any person ever has. But as much as we liked the man, let’s not rewrite history in his passing and rationalize his decision to pardon Nixon as anything other than what it was – politics as usual.

In spite of what the historians and pundits are saying in mourning the passing of this great man, I think if Ford had not pardoned Nixon, we would be a stronger nation. We would have weathered the storm and today’s politicians – at all levels of government – would be more aware of the dire consequences that await them if they lie and cheat in office. I think that is what our founding fathers had in mind.