"UNWISE, DIVISIVE & UNJUST"

FORD GRANTS "FULL & UNCONDITIONAL" PARDON TO NIXON

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 8, 1974, President Gerald R. Ford granted a "full and unconditional" pardon to his predecessor, President Richard M. Nixon.  The pardon covers any crime the 37th POTUS "may have committed while in office."

In an address nationally broadcast on radio and television, President Ford said he granted the pardon "in the best interests of the country."

Richard Nixon resigned the presidency on August 9, 1974 as a result of the Watergate scandal.  Gerald Ford was sworn in as the new president on that date.  He had been appointed VPOTUS by Mr. Nixon after the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew.

Gerald R. Ford is the only person in United States history to have been both president and vice-president without having been elected to either office.

In announcing the pardon, the President said...

"I feel that Richard Nixon and his loved ones have suffered enough and will continue to suffer, no matter what I do, no matter what we...can do together to make his goal of peace come true."

The New York Times described the pardon as "unwise, divisive and unjust."  Although President Ford may have done a favor for President Nixon, he did no favor for himself as the pardon may well have been the deciding factor in his defeat in 1976 at the hands of Jimmy Carter. 

SOURCE

"President Gerald R. Ford's Remarks on Signing Proclamation Granting Pardon to Richard Nixon," Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum, www.fordlibrarymuseum.org/ 

   

 

President Gerald R. Ford

October 17 1974

RICHARD NIXON PARDONED

NIXON PARDONED 40 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Forty years ago today, September 8, 1974, the 36th President of the United States, Richard Milhous Nixon, was granted a "full and unconditional" pardon by the 37th president Gerald R. Ford.

Mr. Nixon, who had appointed Mr. Ford to the Vice-Presidency after the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew, was forced to resign his office on August 9, 1974.

The presidential pardon covered any crime Mr. Nixon "may have committed while in office as President of the United States."

In a nationally televised address, President Ford said he granted the pardon to his predecessor because "it is in the best interests of the country."

Gerald Ford became, on August 9, 1974, the 1st man in history to become Vice-President and President without having been elected to either office.

The New York Times wrote that the Nixon pardon was "unwise, divisive and unjust" and that it destroyed Ford's credibility.  Most historians agree that the pardon was one of the key factors in Ford's defeat by Jimmy Carter in 1976.

President Gerald R. Ford

House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing

October 17, 1974

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KERRY 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago today, September 8, 1959, Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy announced the birth of their seventh child and third daughter, Mary Kerry Kennedy.

Today Kerry Kennedy is a human rights activist and author.  She is a graduate of Brown University and holds a J.D. degree from Boston College of Law.

She has led delegations in El Salvador, Gaza, Haiti, Kenya, Northern Ireland and South Korea.  She has also worked in China, India, and Pakistan.

                    

Kerry Kennedy

Photo by Javier1776

SENATOR HUEY LONG SHOT 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana (JFK+50) Seventy-nine years ago today, September 8, 1935, Senator Huey Pierce Long of Louisiana was shot as he walked down a corridor in the State Capitol building here in Baton Rouge.

Senator Long was at the Capitol overseeing the ouster of a long-time adversary, Judge Henry Pavey.

Senator Huey Pierce Long

                     
The Judge's son-in-law, Dr. Carl Weiss, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, approached Long firing a pistol from a distance of about four feet.  One of the bullets struck Senator Long in the abdomen.

According to witnesses, the Senator's bodyguards opened fire hitting Weiss 62 times.

Senator Long was rushed to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where he died two days later.  200,000 mourners came to view the body lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda.  HPL was buried on the grounds of the Louisiana  State Capitol.

Statue of Huey Long

Louisiana State Capitol

Baton Rouge

Kodak Photo by Billy Hathorn (1972)

Huey P. Long served as Governor of Louisiana from 1928-1932 and U.S. Senator from 1932 until his death.  He was a populist who first supported and but later opposed FDR.  

In 1934, he presented a "Share Our Wealth" plan which he said would provide $5000 to each American family while capping and limiting personal fortunes and annual incomes.  

KERRY KENNEDY BORN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

September 8, 1959


KERRY KENNEDY BORN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy announced today the birth of their 7th child & 3rd daughter, Mary Kerry Kennedy.*


*Kerry Kennedy today is a human rights activist & author.  She is a graduate of Brown University & holds a J.D. degree from Boston College of Law.


She has led delegations in El Salvador, Gaza, Haiti, Kenya, Northern Ireland & South Korea.  She has also worked in China, India, & Pakistan.

                    
                         Kerry Kennedy
                  Photo by Javier1776


September 8, 1974


PRESIDENT FORD ANNOUNCES NIXON PARDON


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Gerald R. Ford gave a "full & unconditional" pardon today to former President Richard M. Nixon who resigned his office because of the Watergate scandal on August 9.


The pardon is to cover any crime Mr. Nixon "may have committed while in office as President of the United States."


In a nationally televised address, President Ford said he granted the pardon to his predecessor because "it is in the best interests of the country."


Mr. Ford was chosen by Nixon to become Vice-President after the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew which put him next in line to be President.


Gerald R. Ford became, on August 9, 1974, the 1st man in history to become Vice-President & President without having been elected to either office.*


*The New York Times wrote that the Nixon pardon was "unwise, divisive & unjust" & that it destroyed Ford's credibility.  Most historians agree that the pardon was one of the key factors in Ford's defeat by Jimmy Carter in 1976.

                 President Gerald R. Ford
House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing
       on the Pardon of Richard M. Nixon
                         October 17, 1974


September 8, 1935


HUEY LONG SHOT IN LOUISIANA STATE CAPITOL

          Senator Huey Pierce Long
                        of Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana (JFK+50) Senator Huey Pierce Long of Louisiana was shot today as he walked down a corridor in the State Capitol building here in Baton Rouge.


Senator Long was at the Capitol overseeing the ouster of a long-time adversary, Judge Henry Pavey.


The Judge's son-in-law, Dr. Carl Weiss, an ear, nose & throat surgeon, approached Long firing a pistol from a distance of about 4 feet.


One of the bullets struck Senator Long in the abdomen.


According to witnesses, the Senator's bodyguards opened fire hitting Weiss 62 times & killing him.


Senator Long was rushed to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where his condition remains guarded.*


*Huey Long died 2 days later.  200,000 mourners came to view Long's body lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda.  He was buried on the grounds of the Louisiana  State Capitol.

               Statue of Huey Long
           Louisiana State Capitol
                      Baton Rouge
Kodak Photo by Billy Hathorn (1972)


Huey P. Long served as Governor of Louisiana from 1928-1932 & U.S. Senator from 1932 until his death.  He was a populist who once supported & then opposed FDR.  


In 1934, he presented a "Share Our Wealth" plan which he said would provide $5000 to each American family while capping & limiting personal fortunes & annual incomes.  


September 8, 1954


DULLES ANNOUNCES SEATO ALLIANCE


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, announced today that an agreement has been reached establishing a military alliance called the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization or SEATO.


The member nations include Australia, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand & the United States.


Each member nations pledges to "act to meet the common danger" in the event of an attack against any single member of the alliance.*


*SEATO expired on June 30, 1977.

                SEATO Representatives
                    Congress Building
                  Manila, Philippines
                      October 24, 1966
                Photo by Frank Wolfe
                          LBJ Library 


(L-R:) PM Nguyen Cao Ky (South Vietnam), PM Harold Holt (Australia), President Park Chung Hee (Korea), President Ferdinand Marcos(Philippines), PM Keith Holyoake (New Zealand), Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu (South Vietnam), PM Thanom Kittikachorn (Thailand), President Lyndon B. Johnson (United States)