Why did Gerald Ford pardon Richard Nixon?

Answer 1

President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon to try and put Watergate in the past and concentrate on the important problems the USA had in 1974, such as the Energy Crisis, and unemployment, and the fact that the Communists were threatening to overrun South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos

Watergate was a "third rate burglary and a first rate cover up". It cost Richard Nixon his Presidency. He resigned after being reelected in 1972 with a massive landslide. Ford knew that enemies of Nixon would not be content until they had brought him to trial . He knew the attempts to get indictments and a possible trial would distract the government from more important matters and would attract publicity in foreign countries that would damage the prestige of the United States.

Enough was enough. Time to move on and deal with more important problems.