◆ SpookStack

* would itself have been put to severe trial. it is unthinkable that this Nation should have been required to endure the anguish and uncertainty of a prolonged period in.which the man next in line of successicn to the Presidency was fighting the charges brought against him by his own | Government. On the basis of these considerations, I am satisfied that the public interest is better served by this Court's-acceptance of the defendant's plea of nolo contendere to a single count Information charging income tax evasion. There remains the question of the Government's position toward the sentence to be imposed. One possible’ course would have been to avoid this difficult and painful issue by declining to make an affirmative ) recommendation. it became apparent, however, in the course of the negotiations that without such a recommendation no agreement could be achieved. No agreement could have been achieved, moreover, if that recommendation did not include an appeal for leniency. I am firmly convinced that in all the circumstances leniency is justified. I am keenly aware, first, of the historic magnitude of the penalties inherent in the Vice President's resignation from his high office and his acceptance of a judgment of conviction for'a felony. To propose that a man who has suffered these penalties should, in addition, be incarcerated in a penal institution, however briefly, is more than I,