who remembers aug. 9, 1974

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Money is usually the main consideration.

Colbert had John Dean and Pat Buchanan on his show recently. Both have written books about their adventures during that whole fiasco. Dean broke rank in a CYOA movement but, still spent some time in a federal hoosegow for his part in it. Both of them stated that Nixon didn't want to besmirch the office by allowing an impeachment trial to go forward.
When Ford issued Nixon's unconditional pardon... well Tricky Dicky won again.

[swamprat69er]

i just don't understand why Ford would kiss Nixons' butt.

[u crank]

Originally Posted by swamprat69er

i just don't understand why Ford would kiss Nixons' butt.

Precedent. Who knows what he was going to get into.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by u crank

Precedent. Who knows what he was going to get into.

Or writing out his own insurance policy in advance.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by swamprat69er

i just don't understand why Ford would kiss Nixons' butt.

Because Nixon handed him the oval office on a gold platter.

[fireftr18]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Because Nixon handed him the oval office on a gold platter.

Ford was the only US President not elected by the Electoral College.

[vienna]

Another interesting fact about the post-Nixon fallout: not only was Ford not elected to office, his Vive-President, Nelson Rockefeller, was appointed to fill Ford's old position, thus marking the first time in American history both of the top positions in government were held by appointees and not elected candidates...


<O>

[u crank]

Just finished watching this. Fascinating. Sad but fascinating.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2282662/

[vienna]

The Nixon Presidential Library is nearby here in Yorba Linda, California. For many years after it opened, there was a gap in the Nixon Presidential history timeline. There was only a cursory mention of the Watergate scandal and Nixon's resignation. It was almost like Nixon got elected in 1972, sat around the White house for a spell and then quit in 1974. This gap became a sore point and a point of contention between the trained historians and curators and the Nixon Library board. The historians and curators sought to be present the whole Watergate/Resignation as accurately and fully as possible. The board, populated by Nixon loyalists didn't want any exhibits showing the full effects of and Nixon's participation in the Watergate crimes. Firings or resignations of curators and historians has been rather commonplace over the years. Just a few months ago, I heard a radio interview with the latest hired curator and he was pledging to give a full and honest presentation of Watergate and Nixon's resignation. I thought to myself, "Yeah, right, good luck with that..." ...


<O>

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by fireftr18

Ford was the only US President not elected by the Electoral College.

Wanna bet?

John Tyler (10th)
Millard Fillmore (13th)
Andrew Johnson (17th)
Chester Arthur (21st)

Were never elected to the office of President by the Electoral College. They were, however, elected to the office of Vice President by the Electoral College.


Then there is the case of the elections of 1800 and 1824 when the Electoral College was unable (unwilling?) to elect a president and the House of Representative voted and elected the president (Jefferson and John Q Adams respectively)


Lyndon Johnson
Harry Truman
Theodore Roosevelt

Also became President without being elected to that office, but since each of them them ran and was later elected President, they really don't count.

But in any case, there have been several men who became the POtUS without being elected by the Electoral College.

But Ford is the only president who was never elected to either the Presidency nor Vice Presidency.

[Bilge_Rat]

I am old enough to remember 72, as I recall, most observers viewed McGovern as being too left wing. Of course, back then, my main source of news was my Dad's "Time" magazine.

Watergate in 72 was very much in the background although even at 16 I had heard about it. The Vietnam War, the mass anti-war rallies, the "Godfather", Bremer shooting Wallace, "All in the family", Nixon going to China, the Christmas bombings are what stick most in my mind from that year.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

When Ford issued Nixon's unconditional pardon... well Tricky Dicky won again.

Which does bring up an interesting legal question.

Under Burdick v. United States (1915) "A pardon carries an "imputation of guilt", and accepting a pardon is "an admission of guilt"."

Why would Nixon, after accepting the Pardon, still be eligible for the pension and other compensation?

Well because the Former Presidents Act of 1958 (3 U.S.C. § 102) states that the benefits can only be withheld if the President is both Impeached and Convicted according to Article 2 section 4 of the Constitution

So Nixon could accept the Pardon, thereby admitting guilt, and still get the bucks.

It is good to be a president.