Ford may have stopped Nixon indictments, but Nixon wasn't even indicted before Ford could pardon him. Why not?

Ford may have stopped Nixon indictments, but Nixon wasn't even indicted before Ford could pardon him. Why not?

You mean with impeachment? Because he resigned.

You seen to have answered your own question.

Who knows what kind of deals were cut behind closed doors back then!
For the sake of our nation a lot of things were agreed to it appears before he resigned. Kind of a plea deal with other parties to the events.

But Ford had the authority even without an indictment and even without a request from Nixon. One of the nice perks of the office.