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Gerald Ford
38th President of the United States
President who pardoned Nixon, preventing accountability for Watergate crimes
Overview
Gerald Ford served as 38th President (1974-1977) after Nixon's resignation. His most consequential and controversial act was pardoning Nixon on September 8, 1974, granting him"full, free, and absolute pardon"for any crimes committed during his presidency. This prevented prosecution of Nixon and established precedent that presidents face no accountability.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
NIXON PARDON: Granted Nixon"full, free, and absolute pardon"one month after taking office, preventing any prosecution for Watergate crimes
NO ACCOUNTABILITY PRECEDENT: The pardon established that presidents can commit crimes without facing justice, a precedent with consequences to this day
SUSPICIOUS TIMING: Ford became VP only because Spiro Agnew resigned in disgrace. Some believe Nixon elevated Ford knowing he would pardon him
POLITICAL COST: The pardon likely cost Ford the 1976 election, but he maintained it was right for the country
Related Investigations (6)
1973 Chile CoupCriminal Justice
Tier 1
criticalEast Timor Genocide and U.S. SupportCrimes Against Humanity
Tier 4
criticalEast Timor GenocideCriminal Justice
Tier 1
criticalHenry Kissinger's Crimes Against HumanityCriminal Justice
Tier 1
criticalMK-ULTRA: CIA Mind Control Program, Illegal Human Experimentation on ThousandsHuman Experimentation
Tier 1
criticalWatergate: The Fall of a PresidentGovernment Corruption
Tier 1
criticalKnown Associates & Connections
Richard Nixon
Predecessor, pardoned
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- July 14, 1913
- Birthplace
- Omaha, Nebraska
Education
- •University of Michigan
- •Yale Law School
Key Timeline
July 14, 1913
Born in Omaha, Nebraska
December 6, 1973
Becomes Vice President after Agnew resignation
August 9, 1974
Becomes President after Nixon resignation
September 8, 1974
Pardons Richard Nixon
November 1976
Loses election to Jimmy Carter
December 26, 2006
Dies in Rancho Mirage, California