Watergate, it is argued, swept Jimmy Carter into the White House. In additions, the Democrats picked up seventy-five seats in the House of Representatives. He promised the American people he would never lie to them.
In fact, All the President’s Men, the film based on the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s unravelling of the Watergate scandal, was the first film Jimmy Carter screened in the White House theater.
Jimmy Carter deserves high praise for commuting the prison sentence of Watergate mastermind G. Gordon Liddy.
Liddy, a former F.B.I. agent and county prosecutor, oversaw the break-in of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate office complex in June 1972. Of all those charged in the scheme, Liddy was the only one who would not cooperate with the government by implicating President Nixon or any of the conspirators.
As a result, Liddy was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Sirica to twenty years in prison for a charge of conspiracy, second-degree burglary, and attempted wiretapping that was his first offense.
His lengthy sentence included a stay in D.C. Jail with the most violent felons. His wife and five children were left with little money. During his time in Danbury, Connecticut’s federal prison, he wrote occasional newspaper columns that were an eloquent, yet unflinching, look at the state of the American prison system.
President Gerald Ford, who had pardoned Richard Nixon shortly after he left office, declined to consider Liddy’s case.
In April 1977, just three months after taking office, Jimmy Carter commuted Liddy’s sentence to eight years, thus making him eligible for parole in July. He was released from custody in September 1977.
Considering the impact Watergate had on the nation and the role it played in Carter’s election, he might have wanted to let one of his political opponents rot in prison.
Instead, Carter showed true mercy on someone.
Carter and Liddy didn’t know each other. Carter certainly didn’t owe anything to Liddy.
After his release, Liddy wrote Will, a bestselling memoir, and was in demand as a speaker on college campuses. He also hosted a popular nationally syndicated radio show.
News reports of the commutation were matter-of-fact.
According to The New York Times, “The President, a White House spokesman said, acted on a recommendation from Attorney General Griffin B. Bell and ‘in the interest of equity and fairness, based on a comparison of Mr. Liddy's sentence with those of all others convicted in Watergate‐related prosecutions.’”
In the same story, the Times quoted Liddy’s attorney as saying he was “pleased. for the first time, that he was being treated fairly and equally,’” and was grateful to the President for bringing the sentence “into line with” those imposed on other Watergate defendants.’”
Even a story on ABC news with Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters did not offer commentary or opinion.
One would be hard-pressed to find any criticism of Carter or Liddy regarding the commutation of the sentence. In 1977, the American people embraced justice and fairness.
Liddy rebuilt his life as a conservative commentator and Carter went about a life of good works. This part of the justice system worked.
As tributes continue to flow in for President Jimmy Carter this week, the mercy he showed G. Gordon Liddy should not be forgotten.
Author Kevin P. McVicker is a partner in Shirley & McVicker Public Affairs in Alexandria, Va.
Jimmy Carter funeral
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Carter commutes Liddy sentence
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