The Veto Is A President's Constitutional Right,

If Lincoln Were Alive Today, He'd Be Turning Over In His Grave.

As I Rejected Amnesty, So I Reject Revenge. I Ask All Americans Who Ever Asked For Goodness And Mercy In Their Lives, Who Ever Sought Forgiveness For Their Trespasses, To Join In Rehabilitating All The Casualties Of The Tragic Conflict Of The Past.

I Think They Ought To Be Treated Equally. Period.

I Remember As A Ranger The First Time I Stood Alone On Inspiration Point Over At Canyon Station Looking Out Over This Beautiful Land. I Thought To Myself How Lucky I Was That My Parents' And Grandparents' Generation Had The Vision And The Determination To Save It For Us. Now It Is Our Turn To Make Our Own Gift Outright To Those Who Will Come After Us, 15 Years, 40 Years, 100 Years From Now. I Want To Be As Faithful To My Grandchildren's Generation As Old Faithful Has Been To Ours. What Better Way Can We Add A New Dimension To Our Third Century Of Freedom?

Now, Therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President Of The United States, Pursuant To The Pardon Power Conferred Upon Me By Article Ii, Section 2, Of The Constitution, Have Granted And By These Presents Do Grant A Full, Free, And Absolute Pardon Unto Richard Nixon For All Offenses Against The United States Which He, Richard Nixon, Has Committed Or May Have Committed Or Taken Part In During The Period From January 20, 1969 Through August 9, 1974.