On this day in 1974, President Gerald Ford, who assumed office on the heels of President Richard M. Nixon's resignation, pardons his predecessor for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. ... The storm caused so much destruction on the Texas coast that reliable estimates of the number of victims are difficult to make. read more
As Jasper Kips notes, President Ford pardoned Nixon preemptively for any crimes that be may have committed in connection with the Watergate scandal. His action was and remains controversial. Ford claimed he did it to cauterize the wound of Watergate and there's no reason to disbelieve him. read more
President Gerald Ford pardoned former President Nixon of all offenses which he may have committed between January 20, 1969 and August 9, 1974. read more