Nixon and Ford were close friends before Ford became his vice-president. According to Gibbs and Duffy, Nixon's chief of staff Al Haig had come to Ford before Nixon resigned, saying that there was a possibility that Nixon would resign if he were assured of a pardon. Ford called Haig back later, with others present as witnesses, to tell Haig that their discussion should not enter into Nixon's decision because Ford would do nothing to affect it one way or another. When Ford rose to president and began considering pardoning Nixon, counselor to the president John Marsh asked Ford when they were investigating the possibility of a pardon, "Is this the right time?" According to Gibbs and Duffy, Ford replied, "Will there ever be a right time?"
