THE ADMINISTRATION: Taking the Heat On Nixon Pardon

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Gerald Ford demonstrated one refreshing presidential trait last week: when the heat is on, he does not flee the kitchen. Despite the outcry over his premature pardon of Richard Nixon, Ford held the second press conference of his presidency—in prime televiewing time. Apart from some touchy questions about the CIA in Chile, most of the questions (16 out of 20) related to Nixon. Most of the questioners implied, and some said with insulting directness, that Ford had been deceptive and devious in reaching his decision. The President unflinchingly stood his ground.

Was there some undisclosed reason that made him shift so abruptly and free Nixon from prosecution? "I had no secret reason," Ford replied. But wasn't Nixon guilty of an impeachable offense? Ford found the unanimous report of the House Judiciary Committee "very persuasive" and conceded that acceptance of a pardon "can be construed ... as an admission of guilt." Ford thought it was sufficient that Nixon had been "shamed and disgraced."

The President insisted that reports of Nixon's ill health were not a major factor ("I was more anxious to heal the nation"). He conceded that new negotiations were under way with Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski on the controversial arrangement under which Nixon would retain effective control of his tapes and presidential papers. As for the pardon, however, "there was no understanding, no deal, between me and the former President." Ford admitted that "the decision has created more antagonism than I anticipated."

Inevitably, Ford was asked why he gave a full pardon to Nixon and only conditional amnesty to Viet Nam War evaders. Ford said that he saw no real connection between the two—hardly a convincing reply. Overall, it was a gutsy performance under fire, although Ford's explanation of the timing of the pardon remained thoroughly unsatisfying.

Continuing his frenzied pace but in an imperturbable fashion, Ford in one day rushed through eleven meetings, running from 8 a.m. until past 10:30 p.m. At a press party the next evening, he laughed when the Washington Star-News' Ronald Sarro, the first male president of the formerly all women's Washington Press Club, commented: "I guess it just proves that in America anyone can be President." In his own speech, Ford quipped: "You don't need a pool in the White House to get into deep water."

Sharp Defeat. Ford's extraverted socializing included some golfing with members of Congress. Yet this did not avert a sharp congressional defeat for him on the first issue on which he directly challenged the legislators. The Senate rejected, by a vote of 64 to 35, Ford's plan to save $700 million by postponing for three months a pay raise for federal employees.

Ford continued to grapple with problems of fratricide within his own staff, mainly between his recent appointees and Nixon holdovers. The imminent exit of Chief of Staff Alexander Haig, who was approved by the NATO Council last week as Supreme Allied Commander of Europe effective Dec. 15, will help; more departures may follow.