Use the following passages to answer questions about rhetoric. Passage One: from Address Announcing Resignation by Richard Nixon In 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned the US presidency as a result of what was known as the Watergate scandal. His vice president, Gerald Ford, replaced him and ultimately pardoned Nixon for any crimes committed with Watergate. This means Nixon would never be charged with those crimes or be punished for them. The following excerpts are from Nixon’s resignation speech and Ford’s speech explaining his decision to pardon Nixon. 1 In all the decisions I have made in my public life, I have always tried to do what is best for the Nation. Throughout the long and difficult period of Watergate, I have felt it was my duty to persevere, to make every possible effort to complete the term of office to which you elected me. 2 In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the Congress to justify continuing that effort. As long as there was such a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to see the constitutional process through to its conclusion, to do otherwise would be unfaithful to the spirit of that deliberately difficult process and dangerously destabilizing for the future. 3 But with the disappearance of that base, I now believe that the constitutional process has been served, and there is no longer a need for the process to be prolonged. 4 I would have preferred to carry through to the finish whatever the personal agony it would have involved, and my family unanimously urged me to do so. But the interest of the Nation must always come before any personal consideration. 5 From the discussions I have had with Congressional and other leaders, I have concluded that because of the Watergate matter I might not have the support of the Congress that I would consider necessary to back the very difficult decisions and carry out the duties of this office in the way the interests of the Nation would require. 6 I have never