The difference between Obama’s potential pardon of Hillary and Gerald Ford’s pardon of Nixon is that Obama is not facing re-election. The pardon probably sank Ford’s election chances.
And there is opinion that Hillary can pardon herself after taking office in Jan 2017. She saves the huge bribe to the Chicago Mob.
It’s a very muddled part of the law, the kind the Clintons excel in.
That 70’s recession would have sunk anyone’s re-election chances regardless of Ford’s pardon.