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This file contains drafts. The handwritten notes are by Becker.
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1126645
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Nixon Pardon - Acceptance Statement
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1126645
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document
title
Nixon Pardon - Acceptance Statement
description
This file contains drafts. The handwritten notes are by Becker.
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Benton L. Becker Papers
General Subject Files
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Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
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1126645
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1974-09-30
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9
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1974
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1974-09-01
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9
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1974
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331efab5b2b9d9ef
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "Nixon Pardon - Acceptance
Statement" of the Benton L. Becker Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Benton Becker donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 2 of the Benton Becker Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
304.
37
STATEMENT.
I have been informed that President Ford has
granted me a full and unconditional absolute pardon for any
charges which might be brought against me for
actions taken during the time I was President of
3
T
the United States. accept this pardon, and I
compensionate
hope that will contribute to lifting the
burden of Watergate from our country.
Here in California, my perspective on Watergate
is quite different and much clearer than it was
while I was embattled in the midst of the con-
troversy, and while I was still subject to the
unrelenting daily demands of the Presidency
itself.
Looking back, the one thing I can see clearly now
is that I was wrong in not acting more decisively
and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate,
particularly when it reached the stage of judicial
proceedings and grew from a political scandal into
a national tragedy.
GERALD A FORD LIBRARY
2
No words can describe the depth of my regret and
pain at the anguish my mistakes over Watergate have
caused the Nation and the Presidency a Nation
and an stitution I so greatly honor.
I so deeply love and honor and an institution
which I have always tried to serve LO the best of
my ability I always did what I thought best at
the time and the fact that what did proved to
be wrong 16 a burden I shall bear for every day of
the life that IS left to me.
I know that many fair-minded people believe that
my motivations and actions in the Watergate affair
were intentionally self-serving and illegal. I
now understand how my own mistakes and misjudgments
in handling Wateryate have contributed to that
belief and seemed to support it. This burden OF
dishelier by honest men and women is the heaviest
one of all to bear.
Lthats the way I tried to
wrong way is a burden I the shall life
deal with Watergate was the
bean for every day of
PORD FOR LIBRARY GERALD
that is left to me.
3
President Ford's compassionate action will, I trust,
prevent the unique and unusual circumstances of
Watergate from establishing a disastrous precedent
regarding the treatment of former Presidents ---
a precedent which would perpetuate the tragedy of
Watergate on down all the years of America's great
and hopeful future.
FORDO & LIBAR RALD
SAN CLEMENTE FACSIMILE HEADER SLIP
BAB
0
U
34
PRECEDENCE
CLASSIFICATI
FROM: Ann Grien
TO: Connie Girard
INFO:
LDX
PAGES 2
DACOM 034
GPS
TTY
SSN
DTG 0815357
TOR 0815347
'74 SEP 8 AM
SPECIAL INSTRUCTION:
WODS vnais
WHITE HOUSE
11:28 28
GERALD A. FORD
314,
San Clements, California
STATEMENT BY FORMER PRESIDENT RICHARD NIKON
I have been informed that President Ford nes gennted
me a full and absolute pardon for any charges which
might be brought against me for actions taken during
the time I was President of the United States. In
accepting this pardon, I hope that his compasionable
act will contribute to lifting the burden of
from our country.
Here in California, my perspective on Watergan is
quite different than it was while I was embataled
in the midst of the controversy, and while I WAS
still subject to the unrelenting daily demands of
the Presidency itself.
Looking back on what is still in my mind a complex
and confusing maze of events, decisions, pressures,
and personalities, one thing I can see clearly now
is that I was wrong in not acting more decisively
and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate,
particularly when it reached the stage of judicial
proceedings and grew from a political scandal into
a national tragedy.
FORD R. LIBRARY GERALD
2
No words can describe the depth of my regret and
pain at the anguish my mistakes over Watergate have
caused the Nation and the Presidency ---- a Nation
I so deeply love, and an institution I so greatly
respect.
I know that many fair-minded people believe that my
motivations and actions in the Watergate affair
were intentionally self-serving and illegal. I now
understand how my own mistakes and misjudgments
have contributed to that belief and seemed to support
it. This burden is the heaviest one of all
to bear.
That the way I tried to deal with Watergate was the
wrong way is a burden I shall bear for every day
of the life that is left to me.
# # #
DEBALO R FORD
Conjury
9AM
STATEMENT.
38
I have been informed that President Ford has
absolute
granted me a full and pardon for any
charges which might be brought against me for
actions taken during the time I was President of
the United States. I accept this pardon, and I
hope that it will contribute to lifting the
burden of Watergate from our country.
Here in California, my perspective on Watergate
is quite different and much clearer than it was
while I was embattled in the midst of the con-
troversy, and while I was still subject to the
unrelenting daily demands of the Presidency
itself.
on almost what is impendatable still on lake mind of an "svents Insident
Pressures and personalities,)
Looking back, the one thing I can see clearly now
is that I was wrong in not acting more decisively
and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate,
particularly when it reached the stage of judicial
proceedings and grew from a political scandal into
7 obstr.ques lange.
a national tragedy.
LIBRARY GERALD R FORD
2
No words can describe the depth of my regret and
pain at the anguish my mistakes over Watergate have
caused the Nation and the Presidency ---
a Nation
I so deeply love and honor, and an institution
which I have always tried to serve to the best of
my ability. I always did what I thought best at
the time, and the fact that what I did proved to
be wrong is a burden I shall bear for every day of
the life that is left to me.
I know that many fair-minded people believe that
my motivations and actions in the Watergate affair
were intentionally self-serving and illegal. I
now understand how my own mistakes and misjudgments
in handling Watergate have contributed to that
belief and seemed to support it. This burden of
disbelief by honest men and women is the heaviest
one of all to bear.
OC
Forto
GERALD