Yovana+G.

=Final Essay= __Gerald Ford’s Pardoning of Nixon __ In 1974, Nixon resigned from office and Gerald Ford became the new President. The reason that Nixon resigned was because of the Watergate scandal and also because Ford would give Nixon a pardon for all the wrong doings that he did while in office. Since he was worried about his family, Nixon took the offer. Even though he should of just stayed until the end of his term and dealt with the issue. In the end, Ford did the right thing by pardoning Nixon. President Gerald Ford's pardoning of Nixon in 1974 was done because he thought it would be the best for the country, Nixon’s family situation, and the White House wanted to get past the Watergate scandal and move on. What had happened was that in 1972, robbers broke into the Watergate building in D.C. and stole several documents. Since Republicans wanted information from the Democratic National Committee Headquarters (DNCH), they were willing to do whatever they needed to do to get it. While doing the crime they needed cover. Therefore, they started to involve the White House into the crimes. It took several months to steal the documents without being noticed, but someone finally did notice. Some people would called it third-rate job. Subsequent investigations revealed the burglaries were actually agents hired by Nixon’s Committee to re-elect him (Ford G., 1974). When Nixon was asked if the White House was involved in the burglaries or helped cover it up, he simply said “No”. When news got out that Nixon had lied about being involved, it was too late to clear his name. White House was involved in sanction of illegal political activities (Ford G., 1974). Since Nixon had no other choice, he did what he had to do, he resign from office on August 8, 1974 (Brinkley, 2007). He even said that “it was the most painful decision in his political career..” (Werth, 2007). In August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford became the 38th president. When in office, Ford pardoned Nixon from all of the offences that he committed during his term as president in office from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974 (Ford G., 1974). Thinking it would be better to do it sooner rather than later, clarifying the issue of Nixon’s pardon (Deborah Hart Strober, 2003). At first, he had six options to choose from, not liking any of them (Mieczkowski, 2005). In the end he had to choose one, so he chose that one that would have less of an impact. One of the reasons that Ford pardoned Nixon was because he thought it would be the best for the country. He wanted to put the Watergate scandal behind the country and focus on the future. “As president, my primary concern must always be the greatest good of all the people of the United States whose servant I am...” (Ford G., 1974). Therefore, the crimes that Nixon committed would be ancient history. He thought that Americans would go along with his decision and accept the pardon, but it only made them mad (Gunderson, 2009). His decision in the end would cause him not to be re-election in the election of 1976 (Ford G., 1974). Another reason that Ford pardoned Nixon was because of his family and himself. Ford might have known that if he was sent to jail for his crime, his family would suffer more than he did. “I have sought such guidance and searched my own conscience with special diligence to determine the right thing for me to do with respect to my predecessor in this place, Richard Nixon, and his loyal wife and family. Theirs is an American tragedy in which we all have played a part… I feel that Richard Nixon and his loved ones have suffered enough and will continue to suffer, no matter what we do...” (Ford G., 1974). They would have no income coming in to feed his wife and kids. When Nixon would be in jail, his kids would be given different views of their father. Some would be good, but it would be mostly bad. At first, they would not understand the reasons of why they would talk about him in that manner. However, when his children would be older they might have different points of views about him and his decisions while in office. What Nixon did not know was that by resigning it evoked sympathy for himself because he was the only president to resign, the people saw him as a victim instead (Ford G., 1974). “.. Serious allegations and accusations hang like a sword over our former President’s head, threatening his health as he tries to reshape his life, a great part of which was spent in the service of this county and by the mandate of its people...” (Ford G., 1974). Having been the first President to resign from office, it would have an impact future presidents terms and obligations when it came to scandals’ when in office. This specific scandal was one that would not be easily forgotten. People would still discuss that occurrence that happened. Many would think or believe that decision that Ford make with pardoning Nixon would be either good or bad. “The facts, as I see them, are that a former President of the United States, instead of enjoying equal treatment with any other accused of violating the law, would be cruelly and excessively penalized either in preserving the presumptions of his innocence or in obligating a speedy determination of his guilt in order to repay a legal debt to society…” (Ford G., 1974). Nevertheless, one thing is for sure. If Nixon would have never been pardoned, there would be different ideas in how the government is used. “It was the Pardon heard around the world..” (Klein, 2008). = Bibliography = Brinkley, D. (2007). //Gerald R. Ford .// New York: Times Books Henry Holt and Company. Deborah Hart Strober, G. S. (2003). The Nixon presidency: an oral history of the era. In G. S. Deborah Hart Strober, //The Nixon presidency: an oral history of the era// (pp. 483 - 493). Virginia: Brassey's Inc.. Ford, G. (1974, September 8). //Gearld Ford Presidental Library & Museum//. Retrieved May 15, 2010, from Gearld Ford Presidental Library & Museum: http://www.ford.utexas.edu/library/speeches/740060.htm Ford, G. (1974, September 8). //The History Place//. Retrieved May 14, 2010, from The History Place: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm Gunderson, M. M. (2009). Gerald Ford. In //Gerald Ford// (p. 22). Minnesota: ADBO Publishing Company. Klein, W. (2008). All the Presidents' Spokesmen. In //All the Presidnts Spokesmen// (pp. 121-144). Connnecticut: Praeger. Mieczkowski, Y. (2005). Gerald Ford and the challenges of the 1970s. In //Gerald Ford and the challenges of the 1970s// (pp. 30-37). Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. Werth, B. (2007). //31 Days: Gerald Ford, the Nixon Pardon, and a Government in Crisis.// New York: Random House, Inc.

=Draft of Essay= Gerald Ford Pardons Nixon In 1974, Nixon resigned from office and Gerald Ford became the new President. The reason that Nixon resigned was because of the Watergate scandal and also because Ford would give Nixon a pardon for all the wrong doings that he did while in office. Since he was worried about his family, Nixon took the offer. In the long run Ford did the right thing by pardoning Nixon. President Gerald Ford's pardoning of Nixon in 1974 was done because he thought it would be the best for the country, Nixon’s family situation, and the White House wanted to get past the Watergate scandal and move on. What had happened was that in 1972, robbers broke into the Watergate building in D.C. and stole several documents. Since Republicans wanted information from the Democratic National Committee Headquarters (DNCH), they were willing to do whatever they needed to do to get it. While doing the crime they needed cover. Therefore, they started to involve the White House into the crimes. It took several months, to steal the documents without being noticed, but someone finally did notice in the end. Some people would called it third-rate job. When Nixon was asked if the White House was involved in the burglaries or helped cover it up he simply said “No”. When news got out that Nixon had lied about being involved, he could not clear his name. Since Nixon had no other choice, he did what he had to do, he resign from office on August 8, 1974 (Brinkley, 2007). In August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford became the 38th president. When in office, Ford pardoned Nixon from all of the offences that he committed during his term, as president, in office in September of 1974. One of the reasons that Ford pardoned Nixon was because he thought it would be the best for the country. He wanted to put the Watergate scandal behind the country and focus on the future. Therefore, the crimes that Nixon committed would be ancient history. He thought that Americans would go along with his decision and accept the pardon, but it only made them mad (Gunderson, 2009). Another reason that Ford pardoned Nixon was because of his family. Ford knew that if he was sent to jail for his crime, his family would suffer more than he did. They would have no income coming in to feed his wife and kids. When Nixon would be in jail, his kids would be given different views of their father. Some would be good, but it would be mostly bad. At first, they would not understand the reasons of why they would talk about him in that manner. However, when his children would be older they might have different points of views about him and his decisions while in office. This specific scandal was, one that would not be easily forgotten. People would still discuss that occurrence that happened. Many would think or believe that decision that Ford make with pardoning Nixon would be either good or bad. Nevertheless, one thing is for sure. If Nixon would have never been pardoned there would be different ideas in how the government is used.

Outline =__ Outline __= *1. Introduction a. Info about what was going on. i. Year: 1974 ii. People Involved 1. Richard Nixon a. Became involved in the Watergate scandal 2. Gerald Ford a. Told Nixon that if he resigned from office his offences would be pardoned b. Reasons for Nixon’s Pardon(Thesis Statement} i. Family Issues ii. Best for the Country iii. Watergate Scandal involvement a. Thought it was best for the country i. Move on from the situation 1. Get an understanding of the situation 2. Keep moving forward a. Wife and kids to maintain b. His kids would not understand what was happening i. Wonder where their dad was ii. Would grow up with different views of their dad 1. People would judge Nixon 2. Call him a traitor a. “Nixon’s people” got documents from the Watergate hotel i. Called ‘third-rate’ ii. CIA ,told by Nixon, to interfere with the FBI’s investigation of the scandal a. Why he pardoned Nixon b. Know it was better for the country to forget an move on c. Family
 * 2. Best for the country
 * 3. Family Issues
 * 4. Watergate Scandal involvement
 * 5. Conclusion

Please post the following items:

President Gerald Ford's pardoning of Nixon in 1974 was done because he thought it would be the best for the country, Nixons family situation, and the White House wanted to get past the Watergate scandal and move on.
 * Working thesis statement:**

{When Ford pardoned Nixon in 1974, he did it for a couple of reasons. Ford did it because he thought it would be the best for the country, also cause of Nixons family situation, but moslty because since Nixon was president at the time, the Watergate scandal was something that the White House didn't want to have hanging over there heads.}

Bibliography Brinkley, D. (2007). //Gerald R. Ford .// New York: Times Books Henry Holt and Company.
 * Working bibliography:**

Ford, G. (1974, September 8). //Gearld Ford Presidental Library & Museum//. Retrieved May 15, 2010, from Gearld Ford Presidental Library & Museum: http://www.ford.utexas.edu/library/speeches/740060.htm

Ford, G. (1974, September 8). //The History Place//. Retrieved May 14, 2010, from The History Place: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm

Gunderson, M. M. (2009). Gerald Ford. In //Gerald Ford// (p. 22). Minnesota: ADBO Publishing Company.

Klein, W. (2008). All the Presidents' Spokesmen. In //All the Presidnts Spokesmen// (pp. 121-144). Connnecticut: Praeger.

Mieczkowski, Y. (2005). Gerald Ford and the challenges of the 1970s. In //Gerald Ford and the challenges of the 1970s// (pp. 30-37). Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky.

Werth, B. (2007). //31 Days: Gerald Ford, the Nixon Pardon, and a Government in Crisis.// New York: Random House, Inc.

Gerald Ford Pardons Nixon 1. [] 2. [] 3. [] 4. [] 5.http://www.google.com/books?id=z63PdOhpHF8C&pg=PA484&dq=pardoning+of+nixon&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false