Often I imagine had Carter elected to move on a Nixon conviction if we would be where we are now. I don’t think we would. Holding power to account doesn’t seem to be an American or Democratic thing to do. When it is, I believe we may have more geopolitical standing in accountability and Democracy. Until we walk the talk we seem to be a cesspool of quacking ducks.
Jimmy Carter pardoned Nixon because Carter was the bigger person and he believed that forgiveness is the most powerful act one can perform against their attacker.
What Carter forgot was, he’s supposed to represent the people who voted for him, and the voters weren’t, and didn’t care to be, the bigger person; they wanted accountability and didn’t place such abstract values on the act of forgiveness.
It was a good personal decision to make, but as a presidential decision, I find it lacking.
Often I imagine had Carter elected to move on a Nixon conviction if we would be where we are now. I don’t think we would. Holding power to account doesn’t seem to be an American or Democratic thing to do. When it is, I believe we may have more geopolitical standing in accountability and Democracy. Until we walk the talk we seem to be a cesspool of quacking ducks.
Jimmy Carter pardoned Nixon because Carter was the bigger person and he believed that forgiveness is the most powerful act one can perform against their attacker.
What Carter forgot was, he’s supposed to represent the people who voted for him, and the voters weren’t, and didn’t care to be, the bigger person; they wanted accountability and didn’t place such abstract values on the act of forgiveness.
It was a good personal decision to make, but as a presidential decision, I find it lacking.
Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon which may have been one of the reasons Ford lost to Carter the next election.