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Watergate, and the pardon of Richard Nixon, is still shadowing the principals, as I learned today digging into NBC presidential historian Michael Beschloss' fascinating interview with Jerry Ford -- to be published in Newsweek on Sunday. (Editor's note: Mr. Beschloss' Ford interview is available today on the Web. Just click here.)
Beschloss sat down with Ford in the summer of 1995 at his Beaver Creek, Colo., summer home. Ford was 82, and clearly relaxed and open. He criticized the rightward turn of his party, George Herbert Walker Bush's reluctance to stand up to the right wing on abortion rights, and Ronald Reagan's refusal to campaign for him in 1976. Two decades later, Ford, ever the nuts-and-bolts politician, could still recite the specific states in which Reagan could have helped him win the presidency - Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana. In fact, he said he would have defeated Jimmy Carter if Reagan hadn't, in his view, sat out the general election campaign (except for one brief joint appearance in his home town of Los Angeles).
Even more contentious -- Ford's thoughts on his former Chief of Staff Alexander Haig's role in the Nixon pardon. Bluntly put, he thought Haig - a holdover from the Nixon White House - had been disloyal, had in fact gone behind his back to tip off Nixon that Ford was going to grant the pardon in any case - so that Nixon didn't have to admit anything to get it. Subsequently, that's exactly what happened: Nixon's representatives refused to budge during talks with White House lawyers, and Ford granted the pardon. It remains a significant issue for historians, who say Ford should at least have waited for some admission of guilt, or an actual indictment, before granting the pardon.
The charge of Haig's double-dealing was actually first made by former Ford aide James Cannon in his 1994 biography "Time and Chance." But until these comments to Newsweek, Ford's views were not known.
Asked by Beschloss why he did not demand an admission of guilt before granting Nixon the pardon, Ford said: "Nixon was adamant. I felt so strongly that I had to get this damn thing off my desk, nitpicking about what he was going to say became less and less important."
Ford went on to say: "In reading Jim's book, I was shocked and saddened by what the role of Al Haig turned out to be. At the time, I had no idea. I assumed he was totally loyal to me. He worked for me! I understood he had worked for Nixon, but I had to assume he was loyal to me...The Cannon book as to the role of Haig surprises me. I'm sure what Haig apparently transmitted to Nixon convinced Nixon that he didn't have to stand - that he didn't have to make an outright admission of guilt."
Called by NBC today, Haig said: "I never said such a thing, that's absolute hogwash. It's mind boggling to me where this nonsense comes from. There was no discussion whatsoever. I was not involved with any of the decision making involved in the pardon. I never had anything to do with the pardon. The president announced the decision, much to my surprise."
But the power of Jerry Ford's comments to Newsweek may indeed be history's last word on the most controversial pardon in American history.
Read more from Andrea Mitchell
Searing image of a brutal reign
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Andrea, Ford was the kind of republican we hoped all republicans would be. It turned out he was a "rare" republican and recent history proves it. What is the reason for the absence of so many U.S. statesmen at his funeral, both Democrats and Republicans. Seems Ford is still not getting the respect and honor he deserves. But history will show he was better than most of the politicians who ignored his funeral.
Adelle Michaud, Adams, Massachusetts (Sent Dec 31, 2006 9:47:27 AM)
Ford might have pardon Nixon and had to lose an election because of it, but he really did the right thing by allowing American to know the White House is totally wrong and what he now thinks of Cheney. Bush and Cheney might want to start looking for their own Gerald Ford because both will need someone to pardon them for their crimes again America. I noticed Bush nor Laura could attend the funeral as they were to busy. What an example of respect to a former President at lease Laura could have come to respect her husband. I guess this is George's way of getting back at Ford because Ford told the truth. Bush/Cheney have no respect or morals and their actions show it. I know Betty Ford will be glad when she can get away from the fake people. To back the Republican party never supported Betty for what she's done for Woman most young ladies don't know what a large and brave part Betty played in getting Woman's rights.
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Dec 30, 2006 11:28:58 PM)
I will always remember President Ford, as a man of compassion. Normally I would have added the word grace, however, being a klutz myself and having tripped on occassion. I annoint him the klutz's President. He taught us that not everyone is perfect even when walking. I know many others of less renown who can attest to this as well. I will always remember having read the book by the Special Prosecuter, Leon Jaworski. He stated that there was not one venue within the United States in which President Nixon could have received a fair and speedy trail. He also noted that this would have been true even ten years from that day. The reason that I remember this so very well, was after Nixon resigned thinking myself that there was nowhere in the USA where he could receive a fair and impartial trial let alone impannel a fair and impartial jury. For we as United States citizens were of one mind, let the man hang, or of the other mind that stated "he just got caught while all the others got away with it."
My condolences to all of the Ford Family, as they had the pleasure of living with the fairest man in the world.
Deborah Maness. Texas (Sent Dec 30, 2006 9:18:03 PM)
Andrea,
I told President Ford that Haig went behind his back
and negotiated with Ron Ziegler on the pardon. I Published it in my book "Silent Coup" in May 1991. Cannon so credited it in his book.
Len Colodny (Sent Dec 29, 2006 9:24:42 PM)
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