In this Proclamation, Presidential Proclamation #4311, President Gerald Ford pardoned former president Richard M. Nixon from any prosecution for crimes committed during his presidency. President Ford reasoned that "the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could only be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial the former President of the United States." As you read over this proclamation, compare and contrast it with other documents in this collection. What image of Richard Nixon appears after examining all of them?

Investigate the source using the zoom and navigational tools in the Flash player and then answer the questions below.

1			What is the tone of the proclamation? Is it optimistic? Pessimistic? Resigned?
2			Ford cites several reasons for pardoning Richard Nixon. What are those reasons?
3			What or who does President Ford seem most concerned with in this proclamation? How is that important for understanding Nixon's place in American history?