A posthumous pardon for any possible crimes committed by Bobby Fischer would recognize his special contribution to our triumph over the Soviet Union. At a key moment in 1972 in Reykjavik, Bobby stood for us against a Soviet monolith: the USSR chess program, the best in the world, stood as a metaphor for an unstoppable and bleak Soviet future.
Through actions like Bobby Fischer's, we Americans have come to see that our system fosters brilliance and nurtures champions. We cannot be crushed. His championship victory proved an enduring symbol of that strength.
A pardon shows our nation's capacity for forgiveness, desire to heal, celebration of a flawed hero who helped bring down the USSR starting with a candy store chess set in a small apartment in Brooklyn.
Please pardon Bobby Fischer.