MovieChat Forums > Frost/Nixon (2009) Discussion > Nixon being pardoned a good idea?

Nixon being pardoned a good idea?

posted 15 years ago by Writerchamp13
64 replies | jump to latest

Yes, Nixon manipulated the power of his office and it was correct for him to resign. However, and I seem to be in the minority here, if Nixon had been impeached AND convicted, it would have created a stigma that would have haunted the American people for decades, not to mention any international credibility for the United States would have been tarnished for a long time. Therefore, I think President Ford was correct in pardoning Nixon and I too believe Nixon did the best thing he could have done in this situation (granted, he was cornered!) which was to vacate his position of power.

Especially after watching the genuine interview between Frost and Nixon, along with this movie, it feels quite apparent to me that Nixon was regretful. Perhaps it had to do more with him being caught, but nonetheless he knew he was complicit and had made profound mistakes.

What does everyone else think concerning this matter?

[–] cartesianthought 10 years ago

It was a selfless decision by Ford, to sacrifice his approval rating and re-election chances, in order to heal the country.

At the same time, there is a feeling of resentment today in our political arena, that America consists of two people (those under the law and those above ), and maybe if Nixon had been in jail, it may have changed things a bit. Sure, there would be several years of social unrest, but at the same time, maybe some real reform could have come from it.

- Cart

[–] wulfthar 8 years ago

The stigma still exists, and even worse it's a precedent: an American President will NEVER pay for his crimes, no matter what he does.

Juliet Parrish: You can't win a war if you're extinct!