As a successor President of the U.S. who was a member of the same political party (the Republican Party), Ford thought it prudent for the nation to move on to the business of governing and away from the scandalous chapter of "Watergate" (and the stain it had made on the nation. He knew that Nixon's enemies would press for indictments against Nixon and if they succeeded, the trials would be a political circus, dominating the news media and the world's attention for many months. Ford decided the possible justice served would not be worth the cost to America's prestige in the world and the distraction it would be produce in the US government.
(Some enemies of Ford have suggested that Ford had agreed to pardon Nixon as a condition of gaining not only the presidency but also the cooperation of the Republican Party apparatus and its major players.)
President Gerald R. Ford, wanted to put the stigma of Watergate behind the country and get on with the business of running the nation. Former President Richard M. Nixon resigned from the Presidency and Ford believed that that was enough punishment for covering up his role in the Watergate scandal.
His very first was to pardon Nixon for his crimes while president.
Nixon could have been tried and convicted.
His pardon of Richard Nixon
No. President Ford pardoned former President Nixon for any past crimes committed against the United States. No pardon can apply to crimes committed in the future of when the pardon is granted.
He offered a pardon to Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon received a Presidential Pardon from Gerald R. Ford.
The pardon was made in 1974 soon after Nixon left office.
September 8 1974 was date of President Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon.
Ford's pardon.
FALSE
Pardoning Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon resigned the presidency on August 9th, 1974. He was succeeded by his appointed Vice President, Gerald Ford. On September 8th, 1974 Ford granted Nixon a "free and full" pardon.