Richard Nixon in A Time to Heal

On War & Peace: Took hard line against Vietnam draft dodgers

One way to hasten the healing process and draw a real distinction between the Nixon and Ford Administrations would be to do something about the 50,000 draft evaders and deserters from the Vietnam War.

After the Civil War, Lincoln had offered deserters restoration of their rights if they withdrew support from the enemy and swore allegiance to the Union. He was criticized for being too lenient, but his was probably the right decision at the time. Nixon had maintained a tough approach. Because draft evaders and deserters had broken the law, he felt, they should be punished before being allowed to return to society.

In a speech to the VFW on August 19, I announced, "I am throwing the weight of my Presidency into the scales of justice on the side of leniency. I foresee their earned reentry--earned reentry--into a new atmosphere of hope, hard work, and mutual trust."

Source: A Time To Heal, by Gerald Ford, p.141-142 Sep 16, 1974

On Principles & Values: Nixon's opponents wanted revenge; Ford sought healing

I had failed to anticipate the vehemence of the hostile reaction to my decision to pardon Nixon. Some of Nixon's critics apparently wanted to see him drawn and quartered publicly. I thought there would be greater forgiveness. It was one of the greatest disappointments of my Presidency that everyone focused on the individual instead of the on the problems the nation faced.

What I had intended to convince my fellow citizens was necessary surgery--essential if we were to heal our wounded nation--was being attacked as a "secret deal" that I had worked out with Nixon before he had resigned. And the timing of the announcement--11:00 on Sunday morning--was being touted as "proof" of the conspiracy.

"Jail Ford, jail Ford," some demonstrators shouted, and a workman standing by the airport fence told reporters, "Oh, it was all fixed. He said to Nixon, 'You give me the job, I'll give you the pardon.'" I began to wonder whether, instead of healing the wounds, my decision had only rubbed salt in them.

Source: A Time To Heal, by Gerald Ford, p.178-179 Sep 8, 1974

On Principles & Values: Resigned on grounds that his Congressional base disappeared

Throughout the long and difficult period of Watergate, I have felt it was my duty to persevere, to make every possible effort to complete the term of office to which you elected me. In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the Congress to justify continuing that effort.

As long as there was a such a base, I felt strongly that is was necessary to see the constitutional process through to its conclusion; that to do otherwise would be a dangerously destabilizing precedent for the future.

But with the disappearance of that base, I now believe that the constitutional purpose has been served and there is no longer a need for the process to be prolonged.

I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interest of America first. Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency, effective at noon tomorrow.

Source: A Time To Heal, by Gerald Ford, p. 36-37 Aug 8, 1974

The above quotations are from A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford. Click here for other excerpts from A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford. Click here for other excerpts by Richard Nixon. Click here for a profile of Richard Nixon.
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