Mass Pardons in America - by Graham Dodds (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Some US presidents face the dramatic challenge of organized domestic resistance, insurrection, and rebellion-challenges to the authority of the government itself. Amnesty in America examines how presidents have issued mass pardons and amnesties to reconcile with Americans who rebelled against their government. It analyzes how presidents have used both deeds and words-proclamations of mass pardons and persuasive rhetoric-to deal with domestic rebellion and achieve political reconciliation. By analyzing the history, jurisprudence, and politics of presidential pardons, political scientist Graham Dodds explores cases of presidential mass pardons in American history. Beginning with old English and colonial-era precedents, as well as arguments by Alexander Hamilton and others at the American founding about the pardon power, Dodds combines jurisprudence, history, presidential studies, and political rhetoric to track the pardon power across time. Most of the book consists of in-depth case studies of the main instances of such pardons throughout U.S. political history: (1) George Washington and John Adams pardoning participants in armed insurrections in Pennsylvania in the 1790s, (2) James Buchanan and Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland's pardons of Mormon insurrectionists and polygamists over several decades in the nineteenth century, (3) multiple pardons by Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson for Confederates both during and after the U.S. Civil War, and (4) Gerald Ford's clemency and Jimmy Carter's amnesty of Vietnam War draft evaders and military deserters. Dodds concludes that mass pardons are a main way in which the federal government can promote political reconciliation, and he provides substantial evidence that presidential rhetoric can be effective and even an essential part of that"--

Book Synopsis

Again and again in the nation's history, presidents of the United States have faced the dramatic challenge of domestic insurrection and sought ways to reconcile with the rebels afterward. This book is the first comprehensive study of how presidential mass pardons have helped put such conflicts to rest. Graham G. Dodds examines when and why presidents have issued mass pardons and amnesties to deal with domestic rebellion and attempt to reunite the country. He analyzes how presidents have used both deeds and words--proclamations of mass pardons and persuasive rhetoric--in order to foster political reconciliation.

The book features in-depth case studies of the key instances of mass pardons in U.S. history, beginning with George Washington's and John Adams's pardoning participants in armed insurrections in Pennsylvania in the 1790s. In the nineteenth century, James Buchanan, Benjamin Harrison, and Grover Cleveland issued pardons to Mormon insurrectionists and polygamists, and Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates both during and after the Civil War. Most recently, Dodds considers Gerald Ford's clemency and Jimmy Carter's amnesty of Vietnam War resisters.

Beyond exploring these events, Mass Pardons in America offers new perspectives on the president's pardon power, unilateral presidential actions, and presidential rhetoric more broadly. Its implications span fields including political history, presidential studies, and legal history.

Review Quotes

Mass Pardons in America is a well-researched and important book that sheds new historical light on the politics of the presidential pardon.--Julia Azari, author of Delivering the People's Message: The Changing Politics of the Presidential Mandate

Dodds illuminates key features of several important amnesties, from the early years of America through the tumultuous 1970s. This excellent book is clearly written, fast-paced, and engaging. Mass Pardons in America is essential reading for anyone interested in the presidency, clemency, and rhetoric.--Jeffrey Crouch, author of The Presidential Pardon Power

Dodds' argument about presidential mass pardons, domestic rebellion, and national reconciliation is powerfully provocative. Readers might debate about whether it is better for the nation to remember or forget its past injuries, but all should wrestle with this book's insights about the presidency and national community, now more than ever.--Nicole Mellow, author of The State of Disunion: Regional Sources of Modern American Partisanship

Graham Dodds has done us a great service. In this bitter and divided age, he brings us back to another time, when presidents exercised the awesome constitutional power of mass pardons to achieve peace and unite the country. Forgiveness is much admired but little practiced, and we can only hope that future presidents hear what Dodds has to say.--Joseph Margulies, author of Thanks for Everything (Now Get Out): Can We Restore Neighborhoods Without Destroying Them?

About the Author

Graham G. Dodds is professor of political science at Concordia University. He is the author of Take Up Your Pen: Unilateral Presidential Directives in American Politics (2013) and The Unitary Presidency (2019).