am t crnMT
- What The Other Editors Are Saying
Pardon For Nixon, A Total Disgrace
__Thejull pardon cranted to former
President Nixon by President Ford
is an absolute disgrace, a travesty of
justice and an insult to all other
citizens who are required to obey the
laws of the land. President Ford
surely must know this himself. After
all, it was he who, when asked
during confirmation hearings for
the Vice-Presidency about his feel
ings towards immunity for Nixon,
remarked that “the country,will not
stand for it.” As is so typical of
politicians, though, Ford Has now
changed his position 100 per cent
after taking office and has hypocrit
ically invoked the name of God while
doing it.
There are severl reasons why
Ford’s action is a disgrace. First, it
shows that the phrase “equal justice
under law is just a meaningless
expression to Ford. We saw a year
ago when former Vice-President
Agnew got off with a “slap on the
wrist” in return for a guilty plea to
charges of bribery and extortion,
that “law and order” politicians use
a double standard of justice when
their own cohorts commit crimes. In
addition, we now see that President
Ford feels the U.S. Constitution
should apply to ordinary citizens but
not to former Presidents.
To make matters worse, Ford
decided the controversial tapes that
contain Nixon’s revealing Water
gate-related conversations belong to
the former President and not to the
American people. This means the
American people will never know
the whole truth about the Watergate
crimes and the extent of Nixon’s
involvement.
As U.S. Rep. Jerome Waldie, a
member of the House Judiciary
Committee, said Sunday, “This is
the ultimate coverup of the coverup.
Mr. Ford has now finished the
coverup that Nixon started. This is a
case of ‘who you know’, and Mr.
Nixon certainly knew the right per
son.”
When the House Judiciary Comm
ittee voted to impeach ex-President
Nixon on three counts, it appeared
that the truth about Watergate
would finally emerge, but now the
will of the American people has
again been aborted. Nixon resigned
to avoid an impeachment trial in the
Senate that would have brought out
all the facts, and now the man Nixon
made Vice President (who was not
elected by the American people)
says that Nixon is above the law.
Frankly, the whole thing stinks.
Mr. Ford didn’t even wait for
Nixon to be indicted and tried for his
alleged crimes before pardoning
him--a very unique situation, to say
the least. We can only assume that
he does not want the American
people to know the whole truth about
the Watergate crimes.
Mr. Nixon may have been guilty of
the most serious crime of all-the
attempted destruction of the U.S.
Constitution-and yet he is now
immune from punishment and will
receive hundreds of thousands of
dollars in taxpayers’ money every
year as an added bonus. Does this
mean that Ford will also pardon
thousands of lesser criminals—ordi
nary rapists, burglars and mugg
ers? Does it mean he will grant
amnesty to all war resisters, whose
“crimes” cannont be compared in
magnitude to Nixon’s?
Mr. Ford has had a “honeymoon”
so far with the press and the Amer
ican people, who figured he looked
good compared to Nixon. The TRI
BUNE warned in a recent editorial,
though, that the records of the two
men on issues were virtually ident
ical, and now Ford has revealed his
true colors. We thought we were rid
of Nixon, but it seims he just put on
a different face.
The Phildelphia Tribune Guest Editorial
Is Justice Picking Nixon’s Carcass?
There has been much speculation
over carrying Mr. Nixon through a
court trial, regarding some of the
charges against him.
Former President Richard M.
Nixon recently posed the question,
“Do you think the public wants to
pick my carcass?” Numerous per
sons have said they felt that Mr.
Nixon has suffered enough already.
To carry out criminal proceedings,
they argue, would amount to need
less torture of a man who has
already suffered enough, whose er
rors in judgment have driven him
_from the highest nffiro in fha -
We wish to comment on this view
point on the part of Mr. Nixon’s
defenders or friends. This point of
view is a widely-spread misconcep
tion that the ideals of our Christian
religion are somehow equivalent to
those of thi American government.
We think such a conception will lead
to a miscarriage of justice, since the
cos Del of unmerited forgiveness is
sadly compatible with the democratic
principle of equal justice unde tne
law.
Here is the case: Nixon stands
accused of numerous violations of
law during his terms as President.
Under our Constitution, it is his
responsibility to face these charges.
And it is right to.have a fair trial
hearing, in the course of which he
will either be cleared or convicted.
The matter will be resolved, one way
or the other. _
The Carolinian Guest Editorial
f- to declare: Wmm
"STERILIZATION ON THE IBiii
RETARDED HAD ITS hBBB
PRECEDENT IN NAZI [§99
GERMANY. THIS WHOLE V\01 I AS\ J |
THING ISA HORRENDOUS 1
ATTACH ON PRIVACY,
INNOCENCE AND THE
RIGHT OF MOTHERHOOD!'
JULIAN BOND
ONE WAY TO REDUCE THE “BLACK PRESENCE
rou uuiLhirrj
coLun m
President Ford no doubt aid
not intend to do so, but when
he granted, in advance of con
viction, a Presidential full
pardon to former President
Nixon, he entered into many
areas of deep concern^ includ
ing the interest of 22 millions ’
of black Americans.
The minds of the black Citi
zens go inevitably to the motto
chiseled on the building that
houses the U.S. Supreme
Court: “Equal Justice Under
Law.” Their memories go
back, too, to the greatest hoax
ever visited uDon millions of
Americans,the “separate but
equal” constitutionality of
laws of this nation. It is of
particular interest, when the
white citizens of Boston,
Mass., are acting on the ques
tion of busing just like the
white citizens of Pontiac,
Mich, and Lamar, N.C. and
they resemble, too, the white
mothers of New Orleans who
opposed integrated schools.
For too many years Negro
Americans have been yelling
for equal justice when they
have not been busy dodging
brickbats, hidden costs and
other trickery--which is never,
or seems like never. They
have their troubles like other
people, but they are afflicted
with a special kind of racial
discrimination of their very
own. Like equal justice.
Of course, everything that
comes down the pike is not
race prejudice like they say it
is, but most of the time equal
justice is conspicuous by its
absence.___ -_
---"T -
Now we have a President
who exercises his constitut
ional authority by giving Mr.
Nixon a pardon for anything
he “committed or may have
committed or taken part in.”
This is not equal justice.
*
This is the same old brand of
justice that black Americans
feel. Some of them, doubtless,
feel that Mr. Nixon has been
punished enough. A few. Some
want him to be convicted. And
some want an eye for an eye.
They want to get all the blood
out of the turnip and then
throw the carcass away.
Whoever heard of ousting a
man-from a job and-thcn
graciously paying out $850,000
to provide him with the ser
vices which belong to a man
who was not ousted and who
•did not beat out impeachment
by a mere step?
u tnis is equal justice then
this commentator is a hound
dog.
What about the others who
have been indicted in the
Watergate mess? What about
their families and their
health? If the Big One is
pardoned, what about those
who took orders from him (or
they thought it was he)? They
all, apparently, felt that the
election of Richard M. Nixon
in 1972 was of supreme impor
tance. They worked together,
a coordinated machine for this
purpose, whether within or
without the law. For them it
was justice, equal or not.
Well, it was not equal just
ice. The years without the vote
for Negroes were years gener
ations-without equal justice.
So were the years confined in
slums. So were the years when
the full story is being told of
slick deals and smooth stories
about the schools and public
education. So were the years
when discriminatory treat
ment, almost too much to
bear, was the black man’s lot
in the armed services.
And what shall be said of the
justice of being stigmatized
and turned into professional
criminals behind prison bars?
President Ford did not
mean to raise these issues. Or
amnesty, even of a limited
nature, for those who sat out
the war. But his desire to act
compassionately has Caused
him to open Pandora's box. He
has also further polarized the
nation racially, which he, good
guy that he is, never intended
to do.
ON POLINOMICS
By Gerald Johnson
One of the main reasons the
economy is in such bad shape
is due to 1972 Presidential
Election In Mr. Nixon’s^uesl
for re-election he decided it
was better to fool the country
rather than to work for the
country. Therefore for polit
ical reason's he made some
economics decisions that
would make the country look
stable for a few days until the
election was over. One such
decision was for the Federal
Reserve Bank to ease the
money flow so interest rates
would go down Another deci
sion was to boost exports tem
porarily so businesses could
boost profits. There were still
others, but these are enough to
prove the point
Both of these decisions
made right before the 1972
election had the appearance of
stifling the inflation rate of
growth. But in reality it caus
i* ed the inflation rate to spiral
to what it is today. For in
stance, since there is a short
age of almost every good you
can think of businesses are
limited to what they can man
ufacture. In other words there
was a fixed supply of goods
By Mr. Nixon boosting exports
there were foreigners as well
as Americans bidding for the
same goods. Hence an in
creasing demand for the
goods. Thus businesses could
sell their goods to the highest
bidder. That is why in 1974 the
prices are as high as they are.
Moreover, at a time when the
money supply should have
been tightened it was eased.
This let more people borrow
money and caused and even
higher demand for already a
limited supply of goods.
The lesson to be learned
here is simple. Politics a?/!
economics don’t mix. Polin
omics (is what I call the pro
cess of trying to mix the two)
is how we got into the mess we
are in today. It is time we take
heed In such valuable lessons
and pass time for us to take
action. It is time to use com
mon sense and vote. Just think
if you didn't vote in 1972 you
are just as much to blame for
the economy as Mr. Nixon is.
Why? Because you helped him
get in office.
THE CHARLOTTE POST
t
Serving The Blaik Community Since 1618
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Published every Thursday by the Cha lotle Post Publishing Company. Incorporation,
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• o
Bv BOB JOHNSON
• BITSANDPIECES...—..v.:-:-.
JIMMY L. WASHINGTON of Worton, Maryland
was in the BIG TOWN visiting his parents on
Russell Ave. last week. Jimmy is a Senior Radar
Crewman, for the Nike Hercules missle in the
U.S. Army. While here Mr. Washington relaxed
and visited with his brother and sister. OCT
OBER 23,1974.Make that a Red Letter Day
on your calendar. JULIUS LLOYD and the
Committee to Re-Elect Donald Stahl for sheriff,
will sponsor a compaign tea at the famed
Excelsior Club. The affair will begin at 7 and last
until the last person leaves. The public is
cordially invited.
to. - nnTTTn itVt t o
A1IV AX/ lliUUO
ACTION COMMITTEE,
a Member of the
NORTHWEST COMM +
UNITY ACTION ASSO
CIATION, has success
fully petitioned the city
to rezone the neighbor
hood from apartment to
single family zoning.
HAPPENING would
like to congratulate the
very lovely Ms. CAROL
WESTBROOK on her
promotion with the
Eastern Airlines organ
ization. Ms. west
BROOK who is present
ly employed in reserva
tions and sales will he a
(.ivnvv uiiu oaivo l C"
sentaUve. CAROL, who lives at 3417 Beatties
Ford Rd., will relocate in Richmond Va. Her
Ultimate goal is to be manager of sales and
services in that area.
RECORD REVIEW.
HAROLD ALEXANDER (RAW ROOT)
A native Charlottean Harold has done a
tremendous job on this album, combining
experience with polished talent, and beautiful
voices. The personnel includes: Harold Alexand
er, flutes and saxes; Joe Boner,’ Keyboards;
Richard Davis, Bass; Brain Breaks, Drums;
also Richard Clay, Flutes; George Cables,
piano; Dennis Heaven, finder bass; Lenny
White, drums; and Tequilla, vocals.
The orchestra arrangements on this album
were done by Arif Mardin and produced by
Jimmy Douglas for Atlantic Records.
This album is a winner!!
THE ISLEY BROTHERS (LIVE IT UP)
This album contains the unusual quality which
the Isley Brothers possess.Well worth listen
ing to. This reporter was impressed with “Hello
It’s Me,” a smooth and mellow cut on the album.
The artists on the album are: Ronald Isley, Kelly'
Isley, Ernie Isley, Rudolph Isley and Chris
Jasper. This is another good album in their-long
line of good, if not great albums. A T-Neck
recording-distributed by Columbia-Epic
records.
JOHNNY NASH (CELEBRATE LIFE)
A giftedbrnthar, .Inhnny Nash has put togetlier
a super package of songs done in his inimitable
style. Some of the artist on this album are: Dave
Kelly, Emery Williams, Guitar^JTerry Wilson,
Paul Stallworth, Bass; Gordon Dewitty, Mike
Montogmery, pfano; Johnny “Rabbit” Bund
rick, keyboards and synthesizer ;4u&t to name a
few of the igany talents found on this album.
This album was produced by Johnny Nash and
Gordon Dewitty for Epic Records. “Celebrate
Life” has the stuff to make it. All it needs is play.
MAXAYN (BALL OUT FOR FUN)
If you like rock, you can’t help but like this
album. It has everything from wide open boogie
to rock ballads.
’ This album has Maxayn Lewis, piano, vocals,
and background vocals; Andre Lewis, moog and
bass; Hank Redd, guitar, organ, and saxaphon
es. Along with Emilia Thomas, Percussion.
Produced by Andre and Maxayn Lewis for
Capricorn Records.
nearing is relieving.So give this one a
listen.
HERBIE HANCOCK (THRUST)
This album has great possibilities, even though
lacks the commerical appeal of “Headhunters.”
It has all of the Hancock qualities and should get
a lot of play in jazz circles. The personnel on this
L.P. include Herbie Hancock. Mike Claifc.
drums; Bill Summers, Percussion P«ul Jacksofi
electric bass; and Bennie Maupin, Saxaphones
and flute.
Don’t forget to check Herbie Hancock out Sept.
27 at the Charlotte Coliseum along with War.
R^nE”sY.me'•••• Be*U,,'Ul R“de".