George W. Bush issued four pardons earlier this week, bringing the total number of clemency orders during his presidency to thirty-one. The president is on pace to grant clemency to about one-eighth the number of individuals as his predecessor. President Clinton actually pardoned more people on his last day in office than W has pardoned during his entire term. But when you consider that Clinton used his clemency powers less than every other Democrat president this century, you realize just how stingy George W. Bush has been with this power. In fact, just four presidents have issued fewer clemency orders, and two of those guys--W.H. Harrison and Garfield--died shortly after taking office.

Strangely, one of our least significant presidents issued the most significant pardon. Not only did Gerald Ford pardon Richard Nixon, but he pardoned Tokyo Rose as well. Warren Harding pardoned the socialist Eugene Debs, Calvin Coolidge pardoned pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey, and Jimmy Carter pardoned heiress turned bank robber Patty Hearst. Most beneficiaries of this Christmastime tradition of presidents, like this week's four recipients, are not so well known.

Not coincidentally, promiscuous use of the pardon power often corresponds with promiscuous abuse of other powers. Presidents generally regarded as more corrupt issued far more pardons than presidents without a reputation for low character. The most noble man to occupy the office, George Washington, issued the least number of pardons--save the aforementioned Harrison and Garfield--putting our current George in good company.

If I remember correctly....

During Gerald Ford's administration, American citizenship was posthumously returned to Gen. Robert E. Lee.

There is word now out of Washington that Bush will pardon echo 5 mike, a political prisoner. Like Mumia, John Sinclair and Pelltier, Echo 5 Mike was imprisoned for his beliefs. He believed she was 18. The law said he was wrong. She was 8.