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Ford's Early Congressional Career
Gerald R. Ford had thirteen congressional years working for congress. He was a very successful politician. He helped restore public confidence in government after the Water Gate era. -
Vice President Agnew resigns
Nixon's Vice President, Spiro T. Agnew resigns due to charges not relating the Watergate scandal. He resigns due to accepting bribes and evading taxes. He left due to having a long and difficult struggle while dealing with them in Congress and in the courts. -
Gerald Ford Becomes the New VP
Gerald Ford was appointed by Nixon less than a year earlier. Ford is sworn in after Spiro T. Agnew resigns from being Vice President. -
President Nixon Resigns
Nixon lied about the Watergate break in for months. He was faced with an outbreak of accusations. Nixon chose to resign before he could be impeached as president. This is how Ford became the new president of the United States. -
Ford Becomes President
After Nixon's resignation, Gerald Ford is sworn in as president of the United States. This leads Gerald Ford to become the first un-elected president in history. -
Ford Introduces His Foreign Policy
Ford introduces a foreign policy. President Ford faced an energy crisis along with a weak economy. This marked high inflation and unemployment. The U.S. was no longer able to aid South Vietnam with military assistance. This lasted from August of 1974 to January 1977. -
President Ford Pardons Nixon
After being sworn in as president, Gerald Ford pardons former president Richard Nixon for any crimes that he may have committed during his presidency. Millions of Americans wanted to see the wrongful former president brought to justice. Ford insists that the reason he did it was to help America move on from Water gate and heal. -
Ford's Final Years as President
Ford knew that it was a possibility that the pardon he gave Nixon would hurt him in the upcoming election in 1976. In the election, Ford loses to Jimmy Carter. Ford claims that he was planning to retire that year anyway.
