Gerald R. Ford

Gerald R. FordGerald R. Ford

August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977

The only president not elected as The only president not elected as either Vice-President or Presidenteither Vice-President or President

Created & edited by Steve ArmstrongCreated & edited by Steve ArmstrongSHS, 1994-2006SHS, 1994-2006

President Gerald R. FordPresident Gerald R. Ford Gerald Ford was Gerald Ford was

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

Ford retained a few Ford retained a few of Nixon’s cabinet, of Nixon’s cabinet, including Henry including Henry KissingerKissinger

Appointed Don Appointed Don Rumsfeld as Chief of Rumsfeld as Chief of StaffStaff Dick Cheney was Dick Cheney was

appointed Deputy appointed Deputy Chief of StaffChief of Staff

Vice-President RockefellerVice-President Rockefeller Liberal New York Liberal New York

Governor Nelson Governor Nelson Rockefeller was Rockefeller was appointed vice-appointed vice-presidentpresident

Democrats Democrats threatened to not threatened to not confirm Rockefellerconfirm Rockefeller

Rumsfeld strived to Rumsfeld strived to keep Rockefeller from keep Rockefeller from having a voice in the having a voice in the Ford administrationFord administration

Cheney, Rumsfeld, FordCheney, Rumsfeld, Ford

Ford with CIA Director Ford with CIA Director George BushGeorge Bush

President Bush with former President Bush with former President Ford, April 23, 2006President Ford, April 23, 2006

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Ford pardoned NixonFord pardoned Nixon September 8, 1974, a September 8, 1974, a

month after Nixon’s month after Nixon’s resignation, Ford resignation, Ford granted Nixon a full granted Nixon a full pardonpardon

President Ford’s President Ford’s approval rating approval rating slipped from 71% to slipped from 71% to 39% overnight39% overnight

Ford believed a Ford believed a pardon would end pardon would end WatergateWatergate

President Ford’s early actionsPresident Ford’s early actions

President Ford issued a President Ford issued a clemency orderclemency order to those who evaded the draft during the to those who evaded the draft during the Vietnam WarVietnam War Clemency order issued September 16, 1974Clemency order issued September 16, 1974

Draft evaders and military deserters could Draft evaders and military deserters could now return to the USA and perform now return to the USA and perform alternative (community) servicealternative (community) service

President Ford’s early actionsPresident Ford’s early actions

Freedom of Information Act was passed Freedom of Information Act was passed by the Democratically controlled Congressby the Democratically controlled Congress Ford vetoed the lawFord vetoed the law Veto overridden on November 21, 1974Veto overridden on November 21, 1974

The FOIA allowed for more public access The FOIA allowed for more public access to alleged government secretsto alleged government secrets

President Ford’s veto penPresident Ford’s veto pen President Ford vetoed 39 bills in the first President Ford vetoed 39 bills in the first

few months of his administrationfew months of his administration 5656 total vetoes were issued by President Ford total vetoes were issued by President Ford

Most vetoes were against spending Most vetoes were against spending increases proposed by the Democratically increases proposed by the Democratically controlled Congresscontrolled Congress Ford vetoed a 1976 $6.1 billion spending Ford vetoed a 1976 $6.1 billion spending

proposal, which he viewed as an election ployproposal, which he viewed as an election ploy The veto was upheld by the U.S. SenateThe veto was upheld by the U.S. Senate

President Ford wanted to control federal President Ford wanted to control federal spendingspending

Sen. Frank Church’s Sen. Frank Church’s CommitteeCommittee

Sen. Church’s Sen. Church’s Committee Committee investigated abuses investigated abuses of the national of the national government since the government since the start of the Cold Warstart of the Cold War

Recommended that Recommended that restrictions be placed restrictions be placed on government covert on government covert operations and operations and domestic spyingdomestic spying



Ford’s economic dilemmaFord’s economic dilemma American economy began to falter in 1971American economy began to falter in 1971 President Nixon removed USA from the President Nixon removed USA from the

gold standardgold standard Post-war inflation rose from 5.9% in 1970 Post-war inflation rose from 5.9% in 1970

to 9.1% in 1975to 9.1% in 1975 President Ford advocated his President Ford advocated his WhipWhip

InflationInflation NowNow (WIN) program in 1975 (WIN) program in 1975 The public viewed Ford as ineffectiveThe public viewed Ford as ineffective

Chicago & Detroit lost half of their Chicago & Detroit lost half of their manufacturing jobsmanufacturing jobs

Role of the Twin TowersRole of the Twin Towers

New York’s World New York’s World Trade Center twin Trade Center twin towers were towers were completed in 1977completed in 1977

Signified a shift in the Signified a shift in the American economyAmerican economy





New energy policiesNew energy policies

Alaska Pipeline was Alaska Pipeline was first proposed in 1968first proposed in 1968 completed in 1977completed in 1977

The pipeline The pipeline transported oil from transported oil from Alaska’s north slope Alaska’s north slope to the port at Valdezto the port at Valdez

Prudhoe Bay pump stationPrudhoe Bay pump station

Beginning of the PipelineBeginning of the Pipeline

Pipeline criticsPipeline critics

Other regulationsOther regulations

55-mph speed limit forced on all states55-mph speed limit forced on all states This was the second most disobeyed law This was the second most disobeyed law

since prohibitionsince prohibition

Expansion of coal miningExpansion of coal mining



Ford’s Foreign PolicyFord’s Foreign Policy

Ford met with Brezhnev in 1974 to lay the Ford met with Brezhnev in 1974 to lay the groundwork for a new SALT II agreementgroundwork for a new SALT II agreement

Kissinger continued his shuttle diplomacy, Kissinger continued his shuttle diplomacy, laying the groundwork for a future peace laying the groundwork for a future peace agreement between Israel and Egyptagreement between Israel and Egypt

Fall of Saigon, 1975Fall of Saigon, 1975





Angolan Civil WarAngolan Civil War

Helsinki Accords, August 1975Helsinki Accords, August 1975

Helsinki Accords were a series of Helsinki Accords were a series of agreements between the USA, Russia and agreements between the USA, Russia and several other nationsseveral other nations

USA & USSR agreed to the post-WW II USA & USSR agreed to the post-WW II division of Europedivision of Europe

Signatory nations agreed to respect the Signatory nations agreed to respect the human rights of citizenshuman rights of citizens The may have led to more anti-communist The may have led to more anti-communist

agitation in eastern Europeagitation in eastern Europe

Ford signed Helsinki AccordsFord signed Helsinki Accords

Squeaky Fromm, Sept 5, 1975Squeaky Fromm, Sept 5, 1975

President Ford is President Ford is hustled away to hustled away to safety after Squeaky safety after Squeaky Fromm attempted to Fromm attempted to shoot himshoot him

Sarah Moore, Sept 22, 1975Sarah Moore, Sept 22, 1975

President Ford President Ford grimaces as a shot is grimaces as a shot is fired at him by Sarah fired at him by Sarah Jane Moore in San Jane Moore in San Francisco, CAFrancisco, CA

Ford sought re-election in Ford sought re-election in 19761976

Ford selected Bob DoleFord selected Bob Dole

Sen. Bob Dole Sen. Bob Dole appealed to the appealed to the conservative wing of conservative wing of the Republican Partythe Republican Party

Favored by RumsfeldFavored by Rumsfeld

The campaignThe campaign

Vice-President Vice-President Rockefeller, Rockefeller, campaigning for Bob campaigning for Bob Dole, reacted to Dole, reacted to college students college students heckling themheckling them

Carter’s Playboy interviewCarter’s Playboy interview

Ford-Carter DebateFord-Carter Debate

President Ford President Ford suggested that suggested that Russia did not control Russia did not control eastern Europeeastern Europe

Carter defeated FordCarter defeated Ford





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Gerald R. Ford