Nixon pardon
Presidential clemency, 1974
The Nixon pardon refers to President Gerald Ford's 1974 grant of full and unconditional pardon to Richard Nixon for any crimes he might have committed as president during the Watergate scandal.
Nixon had resigned rather than face impeachment.
The pardon remains controversial—critics called it a corrupt bargain, while Ford maintained it was necessary to help the nation move forward.
The phrase sometimes appears in discussions of presidential pardon power: He's hoping for his own Nixon pardon.
- FordMajor American automaker
- Watergate1970s political crisis
- Saturday Night Massacre1973 Watergate-era firings
- smoking gunIrrefutable proof of wrongdoing
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
Gerald Ford · clemency · forgiveness · resignation · scandal · coverup · abuse of power · executive privilege · controversial · political fallout · presidential · White House · September · 1974 · unconditional · blanket · reprieve · mercy
Nixon pardoncriminal prosecution
Government's legal action against accused
indictment · imprisonment · conviction · trial · impeachment
Nixon pardonguilty plea
Admitting criminal responsibility
confession · admission of guilt · mea culpa · taking responsibility · allocution
Nixon, pardon, pardons, pardoned, pardoning, pardonable, unpardonable, pardoner