Robert E. Lee
Who pardoned him: Gerald Ford
What he was pardoned for: Participating in the Civil War
Why it was controversial: President Andrew Johnson had issued a general pardon that applied to anyone who had participated in the rebellion against the United States during the Civil War. This proclamation, however, had certain exclusions, which prohibited Robert E. Lee from being pardoned. Lee wrote to Johnson, applying for amnesty, but the application was lost. Ford ultimately granted the pardon, but his decision to do so wasn’t unanimously supported. The resolution for his pardon only passed 94-67. While some view Lee as a military hero, others see him as an enduring symbol of America’s racism towards African Americans.
Vietnam Draft Dodgers
Who pardoned them: Gerald Ford, then Jimmy Carter
What they were pardoned for: Dodging the draft
Why it was controversial: Many citizens dodged the draft either by fleeing the country or by not registering with their Selective Service boards. Many people disapproved of the pardon, seeing the people who dodged the draft as unpatriotic lawbreakers who deserved punishment.