The original documents are located in Box 34, folder “Nixon Pardon - Nixon Statement,

9/8/74” of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.

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 Digitized from Box 34 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

San Clemente, California

STATEMENT BY FORMER PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON

SEPTEMBER 8, 1974

I have been informed that President Ford has granted

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 compassionate

act will contribute to lifting the burden of Watergate

from our country.

Here in California, my perspective on Watergate is

quite different than it was while I was embattled

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.
 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.

# # #
 SAN CLEMENTE FACSUULE HEADER SLIP

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San Cleraent.<..!, Californi ~

ST1iTEl-!ENT BY FOP..MER PP.ESIDENT RICiL\1:\D Ff:'.{Cli

I have been informed that President Ford nas ~F~rte ..:..

me a full and absolute pardon for ar.y cll:Lx·ge~ H!'· i.:-:l

might be brought against ne for action3 taken dur in·J

the t.:.r..H3 I w0.s P::~siden:: of the Cnit·2i State·;. :n
accepting this p3.:cdon, I hope· that his co::.:.pa.;,:.;·Lona:.:,~

act will contribute to lifting the bu.r.:!en cf H,~'-i:.Lga ...

from our country.

Here in California, my perspe~tive on Wa~erg~·~ is

quite different than it waf' \'Thile I W"ls embJ.·~·-~,::d

in the midst of the controversy, and while I H ... J.

still subject to the unrelenting d2ily dernar1-.W of

the Presidency itself.

Looking back on what is still in my mind a co"n;.•J_ 2-iC

and confusing maze of events 1 decisions, pre.s~;·.·.res .-

and personalities, one thing I can s2e clearl'' r.o,;
is that I was wrong in not acti!~.g !::or3 d.P.cL::oJ..\i'-~!..y

and more forthrightly in dealing with ~iatergate,

particularly when it reached the stage of j~.:dicial

procecdi:J.gs and grew •.fro.~ a poli tica: .ucand~ll int.:J

a national tragedy.
 -.
No wo~ds can describe the depth of my res re~~ c:l'd
pain at the anguish my mistakes oveL· Hatc~::at.e i:.'lm
caused the Nation and the Presidency --- a Na·.j_on
I so eee.?lY love 1 and an institution I so g::'-1~\tly

respect.

I know that many fair-minced people be1i-::'V2 t.L.Lt ny

motivations and actions in the Watergate afi<.n.. r

were intentionally self-serving and illeg.:!l. I n0\-7

understand hov my own mistakes and misjudg"nent!>

have contributed to that belief and seem-=:d to sur7ort:.

it. This burden is the heaviest one of all

to bear.
"----

That the way I.- tried to deal \>lith \·laterga.te "'"'-s thH

w_rong way is a burden I shall.bear for every day

of the life that is left to me.

i
~ L ,

'
 September 8, 1974

San Clemente~ California

STATEMENT BY FORMER PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON

I have been informed that President Ford has granted 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 compassionate act will contribute to lifting the
burden of Watergate from our country.

Here in California, my perspective on Watergate is quite different than it

was while I was embattled 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.

No w/ords 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
shali bear for every day of the Life that is left to me.

# #
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 SAN CLEMENTE F.l\CSUULE HEADER SLIP

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PRECimJ.::NCl( .!
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FROM: -A~""""~ v1 G., ,e r

INFO: ____________________~----------------------------------

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---' ,

San Clemente, California

STA.TEMENT BY FO~R PRESIDENT RICH.ARD NIXON

I have been informed that President Ford has ~:p~c>.l"te..i

me a full and absolute pardon for any chetrges which

might be brought agai~st me for actions taken during

the time I was President of the United States. In
accepting this pardon, I hope, ·that his con.pas.:;iona·;:,,~

act will contribute to lifting the burden of li<..l.t.e:r·gaL,

from our country.

Here in California, my perspective on Wat.erga~~.,, is

quite differen.t than it was while I was emhJ. i.:l~;·l2d
in the midst of t'.he controversy, and while I ltn,..~
still subject to the u~elenting daily deman.Js of
the Presidency itself.

Looking~ back on what is still in my mind a co.ntple~t

and confusing maze of events 1 decisions 1 pres~n>:res "'

and personalities, one thing I can see cl eax:l '·' r.oti
is that I was wrong in not actiHg mora decisivtt. !..y

and more forthrightl.y ,in dealing with Watergate,

particularly when it reached the stage of judicial
proceedings and grew from a political acandal into
a national tragedy.
 2

No words can describe the depth of my reg eet. and

pain at the anguish my mistakes over Water3a'tt) ha!le
caused the Nation and the Presidency --- a Nat;.ion
I so deeply love, and arl institution I so greatly
respect.

I know that many fair-minded people beli~ve that rny

motivations and actions in the Watergate affa5.r
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 W<:'i.S the

wrong way i.s a burden I shall . bear for every day
of the life that is left to me.