Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States in 1974 after Nixon resigned. Ford had a long political career in the House before becoming Vice President. As President, Ford faced challenges including high inflation, a recession, and ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam. He granted Nixon a full pardon for any Watergate crimes to help the country move on from the scandal.

1. Gerald Rudolph Ford By Christine Chang, Dennis Yee, Teressa Ju, and Laura Plouse

2. INTRODUCTION : Background Info Born July 14, 1913 to Dorothy Ayer Gardner and Leslie Lynch King in Omaha Nebraska Named Leslie Lynch King Jr. Mother left husband when he threatened her with a knife and later married Ford's "real" dad: Gerold Rudolph Ford. Ford Sr. was honest, charitable, and had deep seeted work ethics , values that Ford himself would keep throughout his life

3. INTRODUCTION : Background Info Avid eagle scout Football star; received offers from the Detroit Lions and the green Bay Packers, but turned down offers to go to law school in YALE From football, learned discipline, teamwork and adherence to the game plan , values that he brought to the POLITICAL FIELD.

4. 1940, Ford befriended Republican Wendell Wilkie and helped him campaign for senator of Michigan Was rudely brushed off by local political boss Frank P. Mckay Day of the election, Mckay finally offered help to a losing Willkie, but for control of Michigan's economy. FORD HAD A GRUDGE INTRODUCTION : Background Info April 1942 Ford joined the U.S. Naval Reserve Returned from war, set up a law partnership in Grand Rapids with frat brother Phillip A. Buchen. Active in a group of reform-minded Republicans in Grand Rapids, called the Home Front, who were interested in challenging the hold of Frank McKay

5. For House of Representatives against Mckay - backed Bartel Jonkman. Unlike his opponent, Ford listened to his voters He won 23632- 14341 Throughout his entire career he only suffered 1 defeat Served in the House of Representatives from January 3, 1949 to December 6, 1973, Reelected twelve times, each time with more than 60% of the vote. October 15 1948, he married Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren, a divorcee, and had 4 children INTRODUCTION : Background Info

6. INTRODUCTION : Background Info Ambition was to become Speaker of the House Became a member of the House Appropriations Committee in 1951, and became minority leader in Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in 1961. Never became Speaker of the House, but in 1965, became minority leader of the House, which he held for 8 years Republicans didn't have a majority in the house for all those years

7. INTRODUCTION : "Election" ...the road to Vice Presidency ... -Spiro Agnew VP of Nixon -Baltimore construction contractors paid him cut of fees from contracts. -He took tens of thousands of dollars of bribes even in the White House -Announced Vice President October 12, 1976 Speech: "I am a Ford, not a Lincoln" -reasons chosen: *would be approved by Congress *same ideas as Nixon *risky *character *good friends with Nixon

8. ...the road to Presidency ... -"He's a good and decent man, the country needs that now ." -June 23 tape "Smoking Gun" proved that Nixon lied about not using CIA to block Watergate investigation -Nixon made his 3 options after Supreme Court ruling *resign now *wait for House to vote to impeach & then resign *fight through Senate trial -Hiag,Chief of Staff, made 5 points of what Nixon should do and #6 was mysteriously added: "Nixon could resign and hope that his successor would pardon him." -Nixon suggests Nelson Rockefeller as Ford's VP -August 7, 1974 9:01 radio and television from Oval Office resignation speech INTRODUCTION : "Election"

10. INTRODUCTION : Party Affiliation Republican Described himself as "a moderate in domestic affairs, an internationalist in foreign affairs, and a conservative in fiscal policy." A major goals: To help business operate more freely by reducing taxes upon it and easing the controls exercised by regulatory agencies. Foreign affairs Ford acted vigorously to maintain U. S. power and prestige after the collapse of Cambodia and South Viet Nam. Preventing a new war in the Middle East remained a major objective

11. OVERVIEW : Timeline Gerald Ford: 38th President of the United States, 1974-1976 1972 June 17 -Watergate Scandal begins 1973 October 1 0 -Vice President Agnew resigns October 12 -Ford appointed vice president without election (first vice president nominated under terms of 25th amendment) 1974 May through July - Ford travels tirelessly around the country defending Nixon. August 8 -Nixon resigns over national T.V. August 9 -Gerald R. Ford becomes 38th president of a nation suffering 12.2% inflation and 5.3% unemployment rate. September 8 - Ford pardons Nixon for Watergate crimes October 25 -Ford pledges to enforce all black civil rights November 12 -Press Secretary Ron Nessen announces the U.S. is entering a recession

12. OVERVIEW : Timeline 1975 January 1 3 -Ford delivers a "fireside chat" to the nation and promises to fight inflation and energy dependence January 15 -Ford proposes tax cuts for American families and businesses. He also proposes to reduce the amount of government spending. February 24 -U.S. lifts 10-year embargo on arms shipments to Pakistan April 10 - Ford asks Congress for to assist South Vietnam and Cambodia financially, but most Congressmen, especially Democrats, disapprove of it. May 12 - Newly Communist Cambodia seizes the U.S. merchant ship, Mayaguez . Ford orders Marines to rescue the ship's crew

13. OVERVIEW : Timeline 1975 cont'd August 1 -Helsinki Accords September 5 -Lynette Fromme tries to assassinate Ford in Sacramento, California. Ford is the first president who has had a woman attempt to kill him. September 22 -Sara Jane Moore attempts to assasinate President Ford in San Francisco, California. She is the second woman to attempt the assassination of Ford. Lynette Fromme

14. OVERVIEW : Timeline 1976 November 3 -Republican Ford loses to Democrat Jimmy Carter in his re-election campaign 1979 June 6 - Ford's memoir, A Time to Heal , is published April 27 - Ford dedicates his Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan September 18 -Ford dedicates his Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan 1999 August 11 -President Clinton awards Ford the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award 2006 December 26 -Ford dies in his California home at age 93

15. OVERVIEW : Specific Roles Chief Executive (ensures that laws are faithfully executed.) enforced the American spirit of democracy and opposition to Communism by fully supporting and continuing the Vietnam War. Appointed Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens when Justice William Douglas stepped down in Nov. 1975 due to stroke. Ford acted on Attorney General Edward Levi advise to appoint Stevens to Supreme Court, and the Senate confirmed Stevens' appointment without controversy. Stevens is also still alive and serving in the Supreme Court today

16. OVERVIEW : Specific Roles Chief of State (official "leader" of a nation) -Sept. 8, 1974: completely pardons Nixon's wrongdoings. This disturbs many people and raises suspicions that... REASONS: Nixon's health and relieving his agony end Watergate and move on "It is my duty, not merely to proclaim domestic tranquility but to use every means that I have to insure it." Ford was in bed with Nixon

17. OVERVIEW : Specific Roles Public wanted to see trial Approval rate 71% to 49% "Throwing away his presidency to do a favor" Thought that trade pardon for resignation and presidency The 6th point Ford never regretted it "Shift from fallen president to rising nation" Chief of State (cont)

18. OVERVIEW : Specific Roles -Ford decides to evacuate troops from South Vietnam as Saigon is captured by North Vietnam (Communist) and war ends. Commander in Chief (commander of a nation's military forces)

19. Commander in Chief ~ Bungled Vietnam Operation Frequent Wind April 29 and the morning of April 30, 1975, soldiers evacuated the American embassy in Saigon. US promised about 90,000 who had worked for or had ties to the US evacuation many were not fetched and they stormed the embassy. Only about1,373 U.S. citizens and 5,595 Vietnamese and third country nationals were evacuated OVERVIEW : Specific Roles

20. Commander in Chief ~ Mayagüez What happened: US merchant ship May 12 1975 Gulf of Siam Cambodian government took crew as prisoners Ford's plan: Rescue plan became a way to punish Cambodians Wanted to bomb warships and military significance US saw it was an opportunity to regain respect they lost with the fall of Vietnam Said it was an act of piracy "Let's look ferocious" with planes, ships, and military force OVERVIEW : Specific Roles

21. Commander in Chief ~ Mayagüez (cont) Afterwards: Cambodians released crew All people in the ship survive "Victory" for country and showed its strength However, critics say: Cost more lives than on boat itself 41 killed total and 39 on ship Ford's decision making without congress Crew not even on island (Koh Tang) where fought OVERVIEW : Specific Roles

22. - Joining of the U.S. and Soviet space > Apollo-Soyuz Test project launched Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft > This was symbolic because it represented the two nation's efforts to reconcile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -Helsinki Accords: Signed in Helsinki, Finland, on August 1, 1975 > Designed to increase cooperation among the Communist and non-Communist countries of Europe (Eastern and Western Europe) > Acknowledged that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were under Soviet control. OVERVIEW : Specific Roles Chief Diplomat (manage foreign relations/policies)

23. Chief Diplomat ~ OPEC Arab oil power was predominant at the time OPEC (Organization of Oil Exporting Countries) implemented an Oil Embargo from 1973-1974, which was difficult for America's economy One of his major goals was to prevent a war between the Arabs and Israelis in the Middle East Implemented "Shuttle Diplomacy" in the Middle East, which seemed to work well Provided more aid to both Egypt and Israel, so was able to get them to accept a truce agreement, but it didn't last OVERVIEW : Specific Roles

24. OVERVIEW : Specific Roles (not) Inflation in double digits and to fix the problems: Whip Inflation Now (WIN) No effect on the economy Shows that Ford can't deal with it Wear WIN Buttons to spread awareness Pledge to spend less and clean their plates Sharing is caring (pain, sorrow, & joy) Chief Legislator (sign/veto bills drafted by Congress and suggest new laws for Congress to consider)

25. OVERVIEW : Specific Roles Wanted a 5% tax surcharge but the idea died away Wanted to reduce spending budget to under $300 billion Vetoes on whatever he thought was too high and would sign until changed "Decontrol" energy prices to stimulate production Chief of Legislator (cont)

26. Bad Reputation with Farmers: Embargo with Russia on grain Try to help keep food prices down But no help with inflation Russia just traded with other countries that traded with US Vetoes bills for boosting prices for dairy, grain and cotton OVERVIEW : Specific Roles Chief of Legislator (cont)

27. 9.2% peak of unemployment Wanted spending cuts again Tax flip-flop Now wanted to cut taxes before wanted to raise taxes Has energy tax and rebate too OVERVIEW : Specific Roles Chief of Legislator ~ Recession, public enemy #1

28. Campaign Finance Law: Limits donation spending Response to Nixon/Watergate Rid politics of corrupting influences of big money and big special interests Uses Federal Election Commission to have strict disclosure of sources and uses of campaign money Creates strict limits on individual and organizational contributions to campaigns and on spending ceilings for races First public financing presidential election campaign from fund through voluntary federal income tax check off Chief Legislator (cont) OVERVIEW : Specific Roles

29. REASONS LOST ELECTION 1976 VS CARTER Pardon of Nixon barely a month in office Veto attempts to increase expenditures for social programs and resist development of new layers of government bureaucracy Stressed virtues of free enterprise and dangers of over regulating economy Proposed tax increase to combat inflation but changed his idea when unemployment increased Embargo on grain

30. The two attempts occured less than three weeks apart First attempt by Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme at the beginning of September 1975 Fromme wanted to kill him because she didn't think his policies protected the California Redwoods enough, so she tried to shoot him with a pistol when he shook her hand, but the bullets weren't in the firing chamber, so he wasn't harmed Assassination Attempts

31. Assassination Attempts Second attempt by Sara Jane Moore in the middle of September 1975 Moore became desperate and violent due to personal issues and she was a political radical, a follower of Marxism, so she tried to kill Ford with a pistol, but the shot was deflected by a marine and Ford was unharmed Both women were arrested and sentenced to life in prison, but Moore was later released on parole

32. Supportive Political Cartoon

33. Critical Political Cartoon 1

34. Critical Political Cartoon 2

35. CONCLUSION : ranking Moral integrity Legacy Leadership Crisis management Domestic and foreign policies Relationship with Americans (beginning from #1 as best)

36. THE END