Reply #12: Well, maybe ...

[RoyGBiv]

We'll never know the back-room politicking that went on, and one could reasonable guess (but it would only be a guess) that the events that led to Nixon's resignation included the eventuality of a pardon like the one Ford offered. He resigned basically because Republicans in Congress told him he should, for the good of the party if not the nation, since they would be forced by the circumstances to side with those seeking impeachment.

Still, the pardon is at best an assumed part of this series of events. I doubt it was a deal-breaker.