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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2022
This article presents case studies of pardons in the presidencies of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. In doing so, the article moves away from the idea in existing scholarship that pardons of the past were largely noble acts of statecraft, untouched by ideological, partisan, or personal political motivations. Instead, it develops an account of how and why these pardons should be understood as both enabling presidents to achieve certain political objectives and, simultaneously, operating in an inherited environment in which presidents used existing resources to legitimate their pardons. In so doing, presidents refashioned those inherited resources and, thereby, created new resources for future presidents. The picture that emerges is of pardons as both sources of political innovation and political constraint.
I am indebted to Austin Sarat and Cliff Brown who both read an early draft of this manuscript and made important suggestions in developing its central ideas. Thanks to Paul Frymer who provided thoughtful and encouraging advice, which led to the article’s current form. Special thanks to the anonymous reviewers at the Journal of Policy History for their excellent insights and advice. The manuscript is stronger because of their counsel.
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