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Today in History: Iva Toguri pardoned by President Ford after treason conviction

1/19/2026

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On January 19, 1977, President Gerald Ford granted a full pardon to Iva Toguri D'Aquino, an American convicted of treason for her role as a broadcaster of Japanese propaganda during World War II, known as "Tokyo Rose." Toguri had risked her life to aid American POWs while stranded in Japan, making her conviction controversial.

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Story summary

On January 19, 1977, President Gerald Ford granted a full pardon to Iva Toguri D'Aquino, an American convicted of treason for her role as a broadcaster of Japanese propaganda during World War II, known as "Tokyo Rose." Toguri had risked her life to aid American POWs while stranded in Japan, making her conviction controversial.