--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was…" description: "\"Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was off-the-wall.\" — Morley Safer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/morley-safer-17896_clinton_clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off_1941750.png" --- # Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was off-the-wall. ![“Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was off-the-wall.” quote by Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/morley-safer-17896_clinton_clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off_1941750.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/morley-safer-17896_clinton_clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off_1941750.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/morley-safer-17896_clinton_clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off_1941750.png) > “Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was off-the-wall.” [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The decision to pardon a controversial figure was seen as unexpected and extreme. **In simple terms:** The pardon was surprising and controversial. Key Takeaway Question the motives behind unexpected pardons. Themes politics controversy justice Mood skeptical critical Type political controversial When to use this quote - government decisions - public reaction - media coverage Key Concepts legal ethics executive power Questions to Reflect On - What standards should guide executive pardons? - How does public perception affect political legitimacy? A Different Perspective Critics argue it undermines rule of law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton/) [Clinton Pardoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton-pardoning-3098286/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Marc Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marc-rich-3098288/) [Off the wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/off-the-wall/) [Pardoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardoning-343934/) [Pardoning Marc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardoning-marc-3098287/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-wall-3098289/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [I think President Trump could pardon anyone he wanted and have it be an effective pardon. I think there would be a big price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-president-trump-could-pardon-anyone-he-wanted-and-have-it-be/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [ They're mounting a campaign right now with the ACLU and a lot of different organizations advocating for \[Edward Snoden\] pardoning before \[Barack\] Obama leaves… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/they-re-mounting-a-campaign-right-now-with-the-aclu-and-a-lot-of/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [The wise man will not pardon any crime that ought to be punished, but he will accomplish, in a nobler way, all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-wise-man-will-not-pardon-any-crime-that-ought-to-be-punished-but/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The heart has always the pardoning power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/the-heart-has-always-the-pardoning-power/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Pardoning the Bad, is injuring the Good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/pardoning-the-bad-is-injuring-the-good/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/mercy-but-murders-pardoning-those-that-kill/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I hate puns. And, I'm tired of pardoning them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lowry/i-hate-puns-and-i-m-tired-of-pardoning-them/) [Mark Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lowry/) > [Stated baldly, charity certainly means one of two things–pardoning unpardonable acts, or loving unlovable people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/stated-baldly-charity-certainly-means-one-of-two-things-pardoning/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Beautiful leaving , is to leave without harming, beautiful pardoning is to pardon without rebuking, and beautiful patience is tobe patient without complaining..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/beautiful-leaving-is-to-leave-without-harming-beautiful-pardoning-is/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [It may well be that Allah will pardon them. Allah is Ever-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving. (Surat An-Nisa, 99)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-may-well-be-that-allah-will-pardon-them-allah-is-ever-pardoning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pardoning Snowden would be a powerful way for the president to acknowledge that the government did wrong, kept us in the dark, acted unconstitutionally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-romero/pardoning-snowden-would-be-a-powerful-way-for-the-president-to/) [Anthony Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-romero/) > [“Mercy but murders pardoning those who kill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/mercy-but-murders-pardoning-those-who-kill/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Beautiful leaving (hajr), is to leave without harming, beautiful pardoning is to pardon without rebuking, and beautiful patience is to be patient without complaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-taymiyyah/beautiful-leaving-hajr-is-to-leave-without-harming-beautiful/) [Ibn Taymiyyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-taymiyyah/) > [It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-in-pardoning-that-we-are-pardoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whether you reveal a good act or keep it hidden, or pardon an evil act, Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Powerful. (Surat An-Nisa, 149)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-you-reveal-a-good-act-or-keep-it-hidden-or-pardon-an-evil-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Morley Safer > [You can never have enough garlic. With enough garlic, you can eat The New York Times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/you-can-never-have-enough-garlic-with-enough-garlic-you-can-eat-the/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [The Republicans learned well from Bill Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/the-republicans-learned-well-from-bill-clinton/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [Arrogance and snobbism live in adjoining rooms and use a common currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/arrogance-and-snobbism-live-in-adjoining-rooms-and-use-a-common/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [I am not in this business as a calling. I don't do what I do to right any wrongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/i-am-not-in-this-business-as-a-calling-i-don-t-do-what-i-do-to-right/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [What has reality shows got to do with reality? It is beyond unreality; there is nothing real about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/what-has-reality-shows-got-to-do-with-reality-it-is-beyond-unreality/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [In his lifetime the great French impressionist painter Corot painted 2000 canvases. Of that number, 3000 are in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/in-his-lifetime-the-great-french-impressionist-painter-corot-painted/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [You can be a great president and be ridden with flaws. Of course we know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/you-can-be-a-great-president-and-be-ridden-with-flaws-of-course-we/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [ \[The\] BBC was known as Auntie suggesting someone prudish and Victorian and that she still is on some days. On others she's a champagne-soaked… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/the-bbc-was-known-as-auntie-suggesting-someone-prudish-and-victorian/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [BBC Radio is not so much an art or industry as it is a way of life . . . a mirror that reflects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/bbc-radio-is-not-so-much-an-art-or-industry-as-it-is-a-way-of-life-a/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [I think it has sullied his presidency. As brilliant a politician as Bill Clinton is, as magnetic a personality as he can be, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/i-think-it-has-sullied-his-presidency-as-brilliant-a-politician-as/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [The helicopter is a fine way to travel, but it induces a view of the world that only God and CEOs share on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/the-helicopter-is-a-fine-way-to-travel-but-it-induces-a-view-of-the/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [Who knows who will be on board? A couple of spies, for sure. At least one grand duke; a few beautiful woman, no doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/who-knows-who-will-be-on-board-a-couple-of-spies-for-sure-at-least/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [BBC Radio is a never-never land of broadcasting, a safe haven from commercial considerations, a honey pot for every scholar and every hare-brained nut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/bbc-radio-is-a-never-never-land-of-broadcasting-a-safe-haven-from/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [I did three tours in Vietnam. I guess a total of about almost two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/i-did-three-tours-in-vietnam-i-guess-a-total-of-about-almost-two-years/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [Pilgrims who are looking for a cure are soon looking for a curio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/pilgrims-who-are-looking-for-a-cure-are-soon-looking-for-a-curio/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) [Explore all 36 Morley Safer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) ## More Clinton quotes > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [All my life I've been involved with racial politics. I was a Freedom Rider in the South. I was the author of books on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/all-my-life-i-ve-been-involved-with-racial-politics-i-was-a-freedom/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I didn't do anything for Russia. I've done nothing for Russia. Hillary Clinton gave them 20% of our uranium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-didn-t-do-anything-for-russia-i-ve-done-nothing-for-russia-hillary/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I absolutely trust Hillary Clinton to stand strong on trade agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrod-brown/i-absolutely-trust-hillary-clinton-to-stand-strong-on-trade-agreements/) [Sherrod Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrod-brown/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Hillary Clinton is the least popular candidate for president ever except for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pickering/hillary-clinton-is-the-least-popular-candidate-for-president-ever/) [Charlie Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pickering/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Why can't we have a voice? What's the difference between an athlete having millions or Donald Trump? Every time a politician talks, they talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abdul-rauf/why-can-t-we-have-a-voice-what-s-the-difference-between-an-athlete/) [Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abdul-rauf/) > [Hillary Clinton's been around for 30 years. Why do these stories need to be told? It isn't all of this widely known?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/hillary-clinton-s-been-around-for-30-years-why-do-these-stories-need/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I happen to think that Hillary Clinton is a beacon of hope for younger girls, as was Barack Obama in other inspirational areas. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-meneses/i-happen-to-think-that-hillary-clinton-is-a-beacon-of-hope-for/) [Alex Meneses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-meneses/) > [If you're going to run for president as the anti-Clinton, you should know that Democrats and their media friends will do whatever it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gigot/if-you-re-going-to-run-for-president-as-the-anti-clinton-you-should/) [Paul Gigot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gigot/) [Browse all 2,917 Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was off-the-wall.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Morley Safer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off-the-wall/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clinton" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off-the-wall/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/morley-safer-17896_clinton_clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off_1941750.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/morley-safer-17896_clinton_clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off_1941750.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/morley-safer-17896_clinton_clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off_1941750.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was off-the-wall.” — Morley Safer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Morley Safer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Clinton's pardoning of Marc Rich was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off-the-wall/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/clinton-s-pardoning-of-marc-rich-was-off-the-wall/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```