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(#6) Calvin Coolidge
- Dec. at 61 (1872-1933)
Calvin Coolidge had a few controversial pardons of his own, including that of German spy Lothar Witzke. Along with spying for Germany, Witzke was involved with a 1916 bombing attack on New York Harbor that left seven dead. After being pardoned, Witzke was deported to Germany.
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(#33) Thomas Jefferson
- Dec. at 83 (1743-1826)
Thomas Jefferson pardoned every person convicted under the Sedition Act, which made "false, scandalous and malicious writing" towards elected officials illegal. David Brown – who received the harshest sentence under the act – was among those pardoned by Jefferson.
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(#44) James A. Garfield
- Dec. at 50 (1831-1881)
James A. Garfield offered zero pardons during his time in office. He was assassinated in 1881 after serving less than a year as President of the United States.
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(#1) Gerald Ford
- Dec. at 93 (1913-2006)
Hands down Gerald Ford's most controversial pardon was that of Richard Nixon. The former president received a full, unconditional pardon for his role in the Watergate Scandal, which resulted in his resignation. Nixon is the only former president to receive a pardon.
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(#22) Herbert Hoover
- Dec. at 90 (1874-1964)
Herbert Hoover's pardon of Indiana Governor Warren T. McCray highlighted the influence the KKK wielded in the state. McCray got himself in trouble by taking out questionable loans, but it was his vetoing of legislation supported by the KKK that led to his arrest when Indiana's Attorney General – and KKK member– filed a series of suits against him. McCray was convicted of mail fraud in 1927 and received a pardon from Hoover in 1930 after the president was informed of the Klan's role in his initial conviction.
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(#11) William McKinley
- Dec. at 58 (1843-1901)
Alexander McKenzie helped secure the appointments of many political figures in Alaska. He then used political favors as a way to get the same judges to take gold mines from their rightful owners and give them to him. After being ordered by a high court to return the mines to their owners, McKenzie did nothing and was eventually found guilty of contempt of court. President McKinley pardoned him in 1901 after only serving three months.
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About This Tool
The US Constitution gives the President a way to show tolerance and benefit the public. Although the president’s pardons seem to be unlimited, in fact, the president’s pardons can only target federal offenders. The presidential pardon power has caused a lot of controversy from the beginning. In the 19th century, President Andrew Johnson issued a broad and controversial amnesty to thousands of former Confederate officials and military personnel after the American Civil War.
Since the founding of the United States, President George Washington used this right for the first time in the late 18th century. The random tool shares 44 of the most controversial president’s pardons in American history.
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