Book contents
- Pardons
- Pardons
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Table
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1Pardons and Kingship in Britain, 1066–1788
- 2Pardons in the British North American Colonies, 1607–1775
- 3Pardons in America in the Revolutionary Period, 1775–1787
- 4The Founders’ Pardon Power
- 5Presidential Pardons from George Washington to James Buchanan, 1789–1861
- 6Pardons and Amnesties during the Civil War
- 7Pardons and Amnesties during Reconstruction, Part 1
- 8Pardons and Amnesties during Reconstruction, Part 2
- 9Pardons from the End of Reconstruction to the Eve of World War I
- 10Pardons in the Era of the Administrative State and Global War
- 11The Pardon Process Begins to Wither
- 12Reagan to Obama (1981–2017)
- 13Pardons as Tools of Political Warfare
- 14The Pardons of Joe Biden and Trump’s Second Term
- 15The Law of Pardons
- 16The Law of Pardons
- 17The Law of Pardons
- 18Executive Discretion and the Rule of Law
- 19The Constitution Should Be Amended to Abolish or Modify the Presidential Pardon Power
- Notes
- Index
11 - The Pardon Process Begins to Wither
Nixon, Ford, and Carter (1968–1980)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 October 2026
Book contents
- Pardons
- Pardons
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Table
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1Pardons and Kingship in Britain, 1066–1788
- 2Pardons in the British North American Colonies, 1607–1775
- 3Pardons in America in the Revolutionary Period, 1775–1787
- 4The Founders’ Pardon Power
- 5Presidential Pardons from George Washington to James Buchanan, 1789–1861
- 6Pardons and Amnesties during the Civil War
- 7Pardons and Amnesties during Reconstruction, Part 1
- 8Pardons and Amnesties during Reconstruction, Part 2
- 9Pardons from the End of Reconstruction to the Eve of World War I
- 10Pardons in the Era of the Administrative State and Global War
- 11The Pardon Process Begins to Wither
- 12Reagan to Obama (1981–2017)
- 13Pardons as Tools of Political Warfare
- 14The Pardons of Joe Biden and Trump’s Second Term
- 15The Law of Pardons
- 16The Law of Pardons
- 17The Law of Pardons
- 18Executive Discretion and the Rule of Law
- 19The Constitution Should Be Amended to Abolish or Modify the Presidential Pardon Power
- Notes
- Index
Summary
Addresses the three presidencies of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter, with particular focus on the Watergate scandal that led to the near-impeachment, resignation, and pardon of Richard Nixon. Of special importance is the relation of President Nixon’s misuse of the pardon power as part of his effort to obstruct the Watergate investigation and the impeachment inquiry that led to his resignation. The pardon of Nixon by Gerald Ford is carefully examined. As are the lessons about use of the pardon power drawn by Nixon’s immediate successors.
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- PardonsDiscretionary Mercy and the Rule of Law in Britain and America, 1066–2026, pp. 295 - 323Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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