Live Drawing With Heather Cox Richardson: The Importance of Ford’s Pardon Of Nixon

Timely, newsworthy anniversary: Sept 8, 1974,

Today is the anniversary of the day that President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for his participation in the Watergate Scandal. Nixon had resigned in disgrace; yet he did not admit any wrong-doing. He left office just before Impeachment proceedings were to begin.

In light of this anniversary, and because the act of pardoning Nixon has ramifications for what we are experienceing now, Heather Cox Richardson and I decided to collaborate again. Heather writes the daily politics and history Letters From An American, which I highly recommend.

Here is our video: Heather explains the history, and I draw about it.

https://youtu.be/wKr34wu2iDk?si=Mx3NPmovg0XJrnyG

Why do we care about this event that happened so long ago? Because the pardoning of Nixon set a precident for what is happenening now. Conservatives tend to believe the office of the presidency should be the more powerful, autonomous, of the three branches of government. We are seeing MAGA, conservatives — the conservative biased Supreme Court ruling on this as well — arguing that Trump has more power than many believe he has.

The country was obsessed with Nixon’s part in the burglarizing of the Democratic Headquaters at the Watergate Hotel, and his involvement (evidenced on the tapes Nixon recorded in the Oval Office) in the coverup of the crime. Nixon said he resigned for the good of the country; Ford said the same, that he pardoned Nixon so that the country could move on. Ford’s famous line, “Our long national nightmare is over” was met with some relief in the country; many wanted to get on with their lives after years of the scandal unfolding, and the Vietnam War. But Ford’s pardon also met with a signifcant measure of anxiety. Was his decision really the right thing? It has been debated for decades.

Now it’s clear that it was not the right decision.

I grew up in Washington DC, and I do remember that day. That Nixon would not be held accountable seemed very wrong to this very young adult just starting her life. I think its why I became a political cartoonist.

Trump needs to be held accountable.