Letter from Representative Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. to President Gerald R. Ford Regarding the Pardon of Former President Richard Nixon

[Identical to Image 1] [Letter from Representative Joe D. Waggonner, Jr to President Gerald R. Ford Regarding the Pardon of Richard Nixon] Transcribing first without any annotation and then provided annotation of each line below. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D. C. JOE D. WAGGONER, JR. 4TH DISTRICT, LOUISIANA September 13, 1974 Dear Mr. President, I just wanted to drop you a very personal note to express my complete agreement with your decision to grant a full pardon to President Nixon. Although I know you are cathing some grief, in my opinion, the reasons you expressed in your moving remarks Sunday of compassion and for the good of the country are very just and admirable. You know you have always had my respect and support, Mr. President, but the decision you made, which I know was a difficult one, just reinforced the confidence I have always had in your courage and ability to lead. Sometimes, and more often than not lately, the loudest voices are not by any means the majority. Although these may be difficult days, in the long run I am confident that your reasons will be justified in the more balanced eyes of history. God bless you, Mr. President. Sincerely, JDW Joe D. Waggonner, Jr The President The White House Washington, D. C. [handwritten] check mark cross off in top upper left hand corner [handwritten] "Pro Nixon pardon" under check mark [handwritten] "9-7" [embossed gold seal] House of Representatives [handwritten] "BT" in left margin next to the first paragraph [stamp] "GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY" to the right of the signature [very light, barely visible underlining in the first paragraph of "complete agreement with your decision " and "pardon to President] [very light, barely visible underlining in the second paragraph of "just reinforced the confidence I have had in your courage and ability to"] [very light, barely visible underlining in the third paragraph of "justified in the more balanced eyes of history."