Final answer:
President Ford justified his pardoning of Nixon by citing a Supreme Court decision and the pressures of the presidency.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Ford justified his pardoning of Nixon by pointing to a Supreme Court decision that held that acceptance of a pardon is equivalent to admitting guilt. By granting the pardon, Ford believed he was following legal precedent and demonstrating the principle of forgiveness.
In addition, Ford argued that Americans did not fully understand the pressures and decisions faced by a President, suggesting that what he had done was right in the context of the difficulties of being in the White House.
While emotions may have played a role in Ford's decision, it was not a direct justification he used to defend the pardon.
Learn more about President Ford's justification for pardoning Nixon