Final answer:
Gerald Ford granted Richard Nixon a full pardon for any crimes he may have committed while in office, ensuring Nixon could not be indicted or face criminal investigations related to his presidency.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Richard Nixon resigned from office to avoid impeachment over the Watergate scandal. Following his resignation, President Gerald Ford granted Nixon a full pardon for any crimes he may have committed while in office.
This presidential pardon was Ford's attempt to close the chapter on the Watergate scandal and move the country forward, but it was met with public suspicion and outrage.
This act by Ford ensured that Nixon could not be indicted or face criminal investigations for actions related to his presidency, including the Watergate break-in and subsequent cover-up.