Unlike with the Watergate Seven, all of whom had been indicted and several of whom had already pleaded guilty, Nixon's pardon was preemptive -- Nixon never admitted guilt, and no criminal charges were ever brought against him. Partly as a result, there were allegations that there was a deal made wherein Nixon would resign in exchange for a pardon rather than fight impeachment all the way through the Senate vote, which would have been even more politically damaging for the GOP and an even bigger impediment to actual policymaking. In fact, Ford had to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on this question. (See Robert Gettlin & Len Colodny, Silent Coup: The Removal of a President 420 (1991); Gerald R. Ford, A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford 196-99 (1979).).