WHY DID THEY HATE FORD. THERE HAVE BEEN THIRTEEN OTHER ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS (TWO OF WHICH WERE ON GERALD FORD, WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER). Ford pardoned NIXON.. Nixion was the first DEM. MSM take down of a US pres. President of the United States Gerald Ford on September 8, 1974, granting a full and unconditional pardon to Richard Nixon; JOE WILL DO SAME THING FOR HUNTER & HIMSELF.