What do you think about what Cheney said:
"It was this man, Gerald R. Ford, who led our republic safely though a crisis that could have turned to catastrophe," said Cheney, speaking in the Capitol Rotunda where Ford's body rested in a flag-draped casket. "Gerald Ford was almost alone in understanding that there can be no healing without pardon."
A few thoughts:
1. Presidents should not be above the law.
2. The pardon seemed to be necessary because there was so much chaos already, a trial or jailing of the former President of the United States could have sent the country even farther into turmoil.
3. Comparing yesterday to now: Clinton lied under oath, committed high crimes as defined by the Constitution...and he stayed in office..... I am a bit young here, but did Nixon himself commit a crime that would allow him to be removed from office?...or was he just doing what he thought was the correct move for the country? It is interesting to compare the two, and also compare what was acceptable with what is now acceptable.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Cheney Hails Ford's Pardon of Nixon
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7 comments:
I think Cheney's comments are pretty accurate until your last quote cited. I don't think Ford was "almost alone". I think that most people at the time understood the justification for the pardon.
"Clinton lied under oath...". No argument there.
"...committed high crimes as defined by the Constitution...". Exactly what definition in the Constitution defined ANY "high crimes" by Clinton?
"...and he stayed in office". Yes, apparently the Republic-majority Senate did not believe Clinton committed impeachable offenses.
Did Nixon commit a crime that would allow him to be removed from office? From Wikipedia:
Nixon's role in ordering an illegal cover-up came to light in the press, courts, and congressional investigations. Nixon evaded taxes, accepted illicit campaign contributions, ordered secret bombings, and harassed opponents with executive agencies, wiretaps, and break-ins. Unlike the tape recordings by earlier Presidents, his secret recordings of White House conversations were revealed and subpoenaed and showed details of his complicity in the cover-up. Nixon was named by the grand jury investigating Watergate as "an unindicted co-conspirator" in the Watergate scandal.
One can be impeached without being removed from office. Impeachment is an accusation that generally leads to other actions, such as a trial. If memory serves, the first presidential impeachment did not result in the removal of the president.
No impeachment has resulted in the removal of the president from office. Only two Presidents, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, have been impeached. Both were acquitted by the Senate.
If I have time tomorrow I'll find the high crimes definition...
and if you read what you wrote jim, you said:
Yes, apparently the Republic-majority Senate did not believe Clinton committed impeachable offenses.
That is what Marshall was talking about...Clinton was impeached, the Senate just didn't remove him from office...Nixon had more class than Bill
No, Nixon committed far "higher crimes" than Clinton.
Bush 2nd lied to the American people about wiretaps. It is on film for all to see, including his confession that he lied. Is it because it wasn't under oath that makes it ok? National security? Why not just avoid lying about it then and say nothing?
Ron, I believe you’re wrong. The only thing that was PROVED was that Nixon found out about the break-in, after the fact, and then tried to cover it up.
All the other accusations are pure, unproved, speculations that have been leveled against just about every Republican president in my lifetime.
blamin..that is what happened...he covered up a break in, Bill covered up adultry...but yes, Bill was under oath, so yes Ron, that does make it worse
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