With the furor of the commutation and possible pardon of Scooter Libby, I thought a history of presidential pardons might put it in perspective.

Typically pardons and other forms of clemency are disbursed throughout a term in office. Bill Clinton’s cluster of 140 pardons and 36 commutations at one time at the very end of his term was unusual and seemingly suspicious, but his total actions of clemency, 456, was not unusual.

Acts of clemency include pardons, partial pardons, commutations and remissions. A short and partial list of presidents and acts of clemency:

Franklin Rooselvelt 3,687
Truman 2,044
Eisenhower 1,157
Kennedy 575
L.B. Johnson 1,187
Nixon 926
Ford 409
Carter 566
Reagan 406
Bush (1) 77
Clinton 456

source http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/pardonspres1.htm

The trend seems to be towards fewer presidential interferences. George W. has so far only pardoned 113 people and commuted 4 more. While he will likely increase this number during his remaining days in office he seems to be following in his fathers footsteps in reduced interference from the oval office.

The Libby furor it seems in historical perspective is much to do about nothing and is being used for fodder for petty politics.

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