Pepperdine Law Review Volume 2 | Issue 2 Article 4 3-15-1975 On Executive Clemency: The aP rdon of Richard M. Nixon Michael K. McKibbin Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/plr Part of the President/Executive Department Commons Recommended Citation Michael K. McKibbin On Executive Clemency: The Pardon of Richard M. Nixon , 2 Pepp. L. Rev. 2 (1975) Available at: http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/plr/vol2/iss2/4 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pepperdine Law Review by an authorized administrator of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Comments On Executive Clemency: The Pardon of Richard M. Nixon . FACTUAL BACKGROUND On June 17, 1972, James W. McCord, Jr., Bernard Barker, Frank A. Sturgis, Virgilio R. Gonzales, and Eugenio R. Martinez were caught with cameras, electronic surveillance equipment, and se- quenced one hundred dollar bills within the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel.' This was the fourth attempted break-in at Democratic National Committee Headquarters, the previous three attempts having taken place on May 26, May 27, and May 28, 1972. For almost a year thereafter, the Nixon Administration absolutely denied White House involve- ment in the break-in. On March 21, 1973, the flat denials of White House involvement were beginning to become somewhat qualified as more evidence re- garding the break-in was adduced. President Richard M. Nixon stated that he had begun intensive new inquiries after new charges had been brought to his attention, and that he had personally ordered all those conducting the investigation into the break-in to 1.