Why did President Ford believe it was necessary to pardon
Richard Nixon?

A. Ford repaid Nixon for appointing him vice president.
B. Ford thought the public wanted Nixon to be pardoned.
C. Ford wanted to end the criminal investigations into
Nixon's actions.
D. Ford claimed that a long, drawn-out trial would further
divide the public.

Answer is d

D. Ford claimed that a long, drawn-out trial would further

divide the public.

Explanation:

After being accused of obstruction of justice during the investigation of Watergate scandal, rather than waited to be impeached and removed from the office, the then president, Richard Nixon, decided to resign, on August 1974, thereby, allowing his vice, Gerald Ford to become his successor.

However, the new president Gerald Ford chose to pardon the ex president Richard Nixon, citing the reason to give his predecessor a full pardon, was to put the tragic and disruptive scandal behind all parties involved. He further claimed that, his decision is to avoid a long, drawn-out trial, which would only have further polarize or divide the public