What happened on September 8
Today in history: On this date in 1974, President Gerald Ford pardons former president Richard M. Nixon for any crimes committed or his participation related to the Watergate scandal while he was in office. Ford said he wanted to put the issue behind the American public and move on. Ford took office when Nixon resigned. He had been appointed vice president after VP Spiro Agnew resigned. He lost his bid to be elected president in 1976 to Jimmy Carter.