General Discussion

wryter2000

(46,023 posts)

51. I followed Watergate closely, even watched all the hearings

Sat Mar 18, 2023, 05:10 PM

Mar 2023

When Ford pardoned Nixon, I just felt relief that it was over. I'm sure there were people who saw the error, but most of us felt that the punishment of having to resign in disgrace would be a deterrent for the future.

It might have worked if the Republican party hadn't become so corrupted. The Republican party of the early 1970's would have convicted Trump and thrown him out on his ass.

I know it was an mistake, but it would have been very difficult to predict Trump and the current Republican party.

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Michael Beschloss makes a really important point [View all] Bleacher Creature Mar 2023 OP

Nixon not having been duly punished, prison term, is precisely why magas feel so emboldened SheltieLover Mar 2023 #1

Or basically do to them PatSeg Mar 2023 #67

Hindsight wryter2000 Mar 2023 #2

People were predicting this back then, too, so it's not at all hindsight. TheRickles Mar 2023 #27

I followed Watergate closely, even watched all the hearings wryter2000 Mar 2023 #51

My mom sent a telegram to Ford Cadfael Mar 2023 #53

I was too young, but ... Dave says Mar 2023 #60

And it didn't take long. moondust Mar 2023 #3

moondust....... Upthevibe Mar 2023 #23

No kidding. And worshipped all the while by the far wrong. calimary Mar 2023 #46

Ford's pardon of Nixon was cilla4progress Mar 2023 #4

Well that's pretty cool! In the great state of Vermont, eh? I was a college student KPN Mar 2023 #17

That's when I 1st learned of presidential pardons Fullduplexxx Mar 2023 #5

Eisenhower was the last honest Republican president. OMGWTF Mar 2023 #6

You know, I find myself saying this far too often Captain Zero Mar 2023 #15

Oh, I didn't know That! Phew! I do know his "beware the Military Industrial complex" quote late... electric_blue68 Mar 2023 #18

In hindsight, that was the last time we had a Republican president calimary Mar 2023 #47

Definitely respect. Maybe agree with some things? Must look up his record. It's been about 62 yrs! electric_blue68 Mar 2023 #49

Read the 1956 Republican platform central scrutinizer Mar 2023 #58

I agree MacKasey Mar 2023 #16

OMGWTF........... Upthevibe Mar 2023 #25

That's exactly what I have always thought Hekate Mar 2023 #7

Me, too MurrayDelph Mar 2023 #10

Yeah, I get that Obama was afraid to rock the boat much, being the first black president, Sky Jewels Mar 2023 #21

++++++++++++++++++ not fooled Mar 2023 #39

I think that is kind of a facile and shallow read stopdiggin Mar 2023 #8

+1 onenote Mar 2023 #44

Well said. A lot has happened in 50 years Raven123 Mar 2023 #56

Ford and countless others after him DENVERPOPS Mar 2023 #61

Hmm. Perhaps in the same sense stopdiggin Mar 2023 #70

The list is endless..........NC DENVERPOPS Mar 2023 #71

Correct Cosmocat Mar 2023 #69

Be really nice to have a synopsis of the content for us musk-averse DUers. erronis Mar 2023 #9

Here ya go... Shipwack Mar 2023 #34

Excellent. Thank you. I could/should research this myself - just want to encourage OP to add context erronis Mar 2023 #37

Ford announced True Blue American Mar 2023 #62

By gawd you're right! Ligyron Mar 2023 #63

So very Rebl2 Mar 2023 #11

And at least some of us knew that PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2023 #12

I was a bit out of college. I was angry that he was pardoned but wasn't learned enough to consider.. electric_blue68 Mar 2023 #50

My husband makes that point all the time. n/t momta Mar 2023 #13

That may hold some truth, Callalily Mar 2023 #14

Yeah, in his case especially. Nevertheless, it was and is emblematic of the failures of KPN Mar 2023 #20

Very true, but in 1974, the idea of President Donald Trump was anathema Kennah Mar 2023 #19

Bleacher Creature.......... Upthevibe Mar 2023 #22

Dick "Shotgun" Cheney did more to expand the power Cheezoholic Mar 2023 #24

The problem with "protecting the office" soldierant Mar 2023 #45

If Ford hadn't agreed to the pardon, then Nixon wouldn't have resigned FakeNoose Mar 2023 #26

Wasn't he the who pushed the idea of a unitary president? dhol82 Mar 2023 #28

I don't remember that, but it may be true FakeNoose Mar 2023 #31

Ford really thought he was saving us from that True Blue American Mar 2023 #64

Been saying that since he did it UpInArms Mar 2023 #29

This is 100% true. evolves Mar 2023 #30

2019 article by Professors Kevin Kruse & Julian Zelizer on this. irisblue Mar 2023 #32

Not punishing Nixon, temporary311 Mar 2023 #33

In this case, I disagree Poiuyt Mar 2023 #35

This wouldn't apply to Trump JI7 Mar 2023 #36

Let me fix that for you Michael.....later REPUBLICANS Ferrets are Cool Mar 2023 #38

Great point! True Blue American Mar 2023 #65

I was 14 I think LittleGirl Mar 2023 #40

Absolutely Historic NY Mar 2023 #41

A lot of us felt that way then, too relayerbob Mar 2023 #42

Well, no shit. jaxexpat Mar 2023 #43

Exactly! chowmama Mar 2023 #48

We had a nice lunch with an old friend of ours, an attorney, and I made exactly that point. n/t. NNadir Mar 2023 #52

The Ford Pardon helped elect Jimmy Carter LetMyPeopleVote Mar 2023 #54

said that the night Ford pardoned him and rurallib Mar 2023 #55

Enough people were pissed off at Ford that he wasn't elected. BigmanPigman Mar 2023 #57

In my elementary school, teachers taught that in America "no one is above the law." tclambert Mar 2023 #59

Ford lost DownriverDem Mar 2023 #66

I've said this very thing on DU cab67 Mar 2023 #68