Gerald Ford Sworn in as President (1974)

 

President Gerald R Ford
Gerald Ford is sworn in as the 38th President of the United States by Chief Justice Warren Burger in the White House East Room, while Betty Ford looks on
Type Of Activity	Political Appointment
Location
Location	Washington DC
Date of Activity	August 9, 1974
Coordinates

Vice President Ford sworn in as President on August 9, 1974

Gerald R. Ford became the President of the United States on August 9, 1974, following the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Nixon resigned from the presidency due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal, which had engulfed his administration in controversy and scandal.

As the Vice President, Ford was next in line to assume the presidency, as provided for in the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution. When Nixon resigned, Ford took the oath of office and became the 38th President of the United States. Later, he would nominate the former Republican Governor of New York, Nelson Rockefeller, as his vice-president.

Gerald Ford took office in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and in the final stages of the Vietnam War.

As for me and my family, when Richard Nixon resigned, we were living in Ohio adjusting to civilian life!

Ford's ascension to the presidency was a historic moment in American history, as he was the first person to become president without being elected to either the presidency or vice presidency. He inherited a nation that was deeply divided and struggling with numerous challenges, including a struggling economy, rising inflation, and ongoing international conflicts.

In his first address to the nation as president, Ford famously declared, "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over." He worked to restore trust in the government and the presidency, and implemented policies designed to heal the nation after the trauma of Watergate.

President Gerald Ford Pardons ex-president Richard Nixon

As President, Ford worked to heal the divisions in the country and restore public trust in the government. He implemented policies aimed at strengthening the economy, including measures to curb inflation and promote job growth. He also worked to improve relations with the Soviet Union and other countries and was instrumental in the signing of the Helsinki Accords, which aimed to promote human rights and cooperation between nations.

Official Resignation of President Richard M Nixon

Ford's presidency was not without controversy, however. He faced criticism for his decision to pardon Nixon. As President his first major act upon taking office was to grant a Presidential pardon to Ex-President Richard Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal, which many saw as an attempt to protect the former president and his administration from further scrutiny and legal action, prompting a major backlash to Ford's presidency. He also faced opposition from some quarters for his foreign policy decisions, including his decision to create a conditional clemency program for Vietnam War draft dodgers.

Richard Nixon’s Pardon

Despite these challenges, Ford is remembered as a principled and dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly to serve the American people during a difficult and turbulent period in American history. His appointment as President without being elected was a reminder of the importance of the Vice Presidency and the need for a clear process to ensure a smooth transition of power in times of crisis.

Some of Nixon’s aides were not so lucky: They were convicted of very serious offenses and sent to federal prison. Ex-President Nixon himself never admitted to any criminal wrongdoing, though he did acknowledge using poor judgment. His abuse of presidential power had a negative effect on American political life, creating an atmosphere of cynicism and distrust. While many Americans had been deeply dismayed by the outcomes of the Vietnam War, Watergate added further disappointment in a national climate already soured by the difficulties and losses of the past decade.

President Gerald R. Ford also becomes the first president to survive an attempt on his life in Sacramento, California on September 5, 1975, the assailant, a petite, red haired, freckle-faced young woman named Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme (a member of the Manson family), approached the president while he was walking near the California Capitol and raised a .45 caliber handgun toward him. Before she was able to fire off a shot, Secret Service agents tackled her and wrestled her to the ground.

On September 22, 1975, just seventeen days later, another woman, Sara Jane Moore, a mentally unstable accountant, tried to assassinate President Ford while he was in San Francisco. Her attempt was thwarted by a bystander who instinctively grabbed Moore’s arm when she raised the gun. Although she fired one shot, it did not find its target. The bystander was a former Marine and Vietnam veteran.

The second assassination attempt of President Ford in San Francisco

Much of President Ford's focus in domestic policy was on the economy, which experienced recession during his tenure. After initially promoting a tax increase designed to combat inflation, he championed a tax cut designed to rejuvenate the economy, and he signed two tax reduction acts into law. The foreign policy of the Ford administration was characterized in procedural terms by the increased role that Congress began to play, and by the corresponding curb on the powers of the President. Overcoming significant congressional opposition, Ford continued Nixon's détente policies with the Soviet Union.

President Gerald R Ford

Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 14, 1913. His name at birth was Leslie Lynch King Jr., after his biological father. His mother, Dorothy, divorced King when her son was a baby and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. She then married Gerald R. Ford, who adopted her young son. Ford recalled in his memoirs that he learned about his biological father at the age of 12 and only met the man a couple of times.

A star college football player, he served in the Navy during WWII. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1948, Ford represented Michigan's 5th District for nearly 25 years before suddenly finding himself at the crossroads of history. He was appointed to vice president, and then became the 38th U.S. president due to Richard Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal and subsequent resignation. Ford was defeated in the 1976 Presidential election. He died in California in 2006.

Gerald Ford served one term as President which ended on January 20, 1977, a period of 895 days. Gerald Ford was the only person to serve as President without being elected to either the presidency or the vice presidency. His presidency ended following his defeat in the 1976 Presidential election by Democrat Jimmy Carter.

Throughout my time with WHCA, I witnessed significant historical events, including the escalation of the Vietnam War, anti-war protests, the assassination of Robert Kennedy, the civil unrest at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, the San Clemente Western White House, the historic trip to China, the Florida White House in Key Biscayne, the end of the Vietnam War, including the return of POW/MIA's, the Watergate break-in and cover-up, the resignation of the Vice President and ultimately the 37th President of the United States.

Although many details have faded from my memory, there is still so much to document in these many pages. I am proud to have served as a member of the White House Communications Agency for over nine years and to have been a part of such significant historical events.