Dick Nixon was never indicted, let alone convicted, and he was more likely to just be impeached, rather than be convicted of anything. As for Marc Rich, good example. Presidents are not supposed to just act like kings when it comes to pardoning felons, even though they technically can.
What ethics manual does that come from? The president has very broad pardon powers, so he can act like a king if he wants to. It's in the Constitution.
Right ... was only equating him to the fact that he was never brought to any trial but was pardoned first ....