What will be his legacy? Is it, as the media says, one of healing the nation after Watergate? Not being a big history buff, and certainly not being one who paid as much attention to Ford as I could have, I would have to say that certainly seems to be his legacy, at least according to the "liberal media".
However, I don't know if I agree with the assessment that he healed the nation, or at least helped heal the nation. A few things stick out in my mind when I think of this healing that apparently took place. One is a comment I read on a liberal blog, wherein the person commented that you can't heal something that hasn't been cleansed. The cleansing that never took place was Nixon accounting for his decisions, at least accounting for them by serving time.
When I was in Young Women's, I remember reciting the Young Women's values. One of which was choice and accountability. I don't think the Church, or Christ, intends for our accountability to be the most minimum we can get away with. I think accountability means accounting for it in the fullest possible way. This didn't occur because Ford pardoned Nixon. Which brings me to the next thing that crosses my mind when I think of Ford's legacy...
I was at my dad's house last night for dinner. Keep in mind my dad is a Republican. Solid Republican. He said Nixon belonged in prison and should've gone to prison. It was said in one article I read that Ford pardoning Nixon cost Ford the election.
Now before everyone gets to thinking that I despise Ford and Nixon, let me state that I wasn't alive during this difficult period in America's history. Let me also state that I do not possess any psychic abilities. I cannot say that had Ford not pardoned Nixon and Nixon went to prison if this country would have been better off. Perhaps pardoning Nixon was the best thing for this country. I don't know. Is any of this making any sense?!?
Let me end by saying that what President Ford did as President, aside from pardoning Nixon, was what this country needed. What was it exactly? It was not being Nixon! Though Nixon did some good things as President, which is a whole other topic for another post.
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2 comments:
In a way, President Nixon did pay for his mistakes. He lost the presidency and his legacy, probably the two most important things to any president.
But I think you bring up some good points. Would the US have been better off if our president was sent to jail? Or is it better off because we were able to "move on"? Part of me tends to think that the country would have been better overall if he had not been pardoned. Something akin to the "cleansing" your liberal blog commenter wrote about. Perhaps that would have set a better precedent for future holders of the office of the president. Maybe government would be held in higher regard and even trusted a little bit if President Nixon had been held more accountable for his misdeeds.
However, perhaps there is a component missing in this argument. With the partisan nature of Washington DC, can true justice ever be attained?
Good points, Cameron. Yes, Nixon lost what he maybe treasured most, his power and control. And yes, his legacy. Anything good Nixon did is forgotten and rarely mentioned (usually by a liberal these days).
And I don't think justice can ever occur in Washington, D.C. Not for a Democrat who screws up and not for a Republican.
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