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A View Looking Back at Capital Punishment and Clemency in Tennessee

By Steve Hall

"Gov. Clement followed conscience on death penalty," is the title of an OpEd from the Tennessean.  It's written by former congressman Bob Clement and appeared in the Sunday paper.  It's a must-read.As governor, my father, Frank Clement Sr., truly struggled with the responsibility and legal right to decide who lives and who dies under the death penalty. He did not feel it was a responsibility that should be left entirely to the governor.During his second term, men did die in the electric chair. I remember seeing the anguish my father suffered as the hour of execution grew closer. He would personally talk with each inmate on death row and ask them the simple question: "Why should I save your life?" Some inmates had lied all the way through the legal process, but when facing my father's question, some did say, "Governor, you should not intervene...continue to full post

Full post as published by StandDown Texas Project on March 31, 2010 (boomark / email).