Letters to the Editor
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bobr900
One, I said most people were pissed, not a few--most being a majority of an indefinite or large amount of "X." Two, Nixon could not have been impeached after the fact, he resigned. Three, the fact that he resigned did not preclude a thorough investigation of his crimes, it merely made null the need for a formal impeachment. To wit:
"Judgement in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of Honor, Trust, or Profit under the United States; but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgement, and Punishment, according to Law."
Which simply means that the Senate decides whether to remove and disqualify someone from ever holding a public trust; the Senate does not act as a civil or criminal court. However, a judgment of impeachment does not preclude investigation and trial in a public court--and that is EXACTLY what Ford's pardon had done. Ergo, why so many people were pissed off. Yes, Nixon should have been investigated and tried. But, no, there was no actual need for Nixon's impeachment for an investigation and probable trial to continue.