How did Bill Clinton escape conviction and removal as President?

President Nixon resigned the office of Presidency on August 9, 1974, rather than face likely impeachment for his role in the illegal activities of the Watergate scandal. Impeachment is an action that can be applied only to an office-holder. Also, by resigning, he depended on the common sense of the new US President Gerald Ford to pardon Nixon from any criminal charges such as obstruction of justice. A trial of a former US president would be a political disaster, and a public relations situation the US did not need. With that in mind, President Ford pardoned Nixon for any alleged misdeeds and few objections were heard. For the most part, Nixon's opponents were just glad to see him go.