The purpose of the speech to the American people was to show the important and tough decision that was about to be taken by the president.
This refers to the intervention of the president in a judicial process to grant a pardon to a convicted person.
Hence, we can see that the given quote by President Gerald Ford was made when he stated the proclamation for the presidential pardon of Richard Nixon and the purpose of this was to show that it was a difficult decision.
Read more about presidential pardons here:
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