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Early Congressional Career.
Ford won 13 congressional years working for congress. He was very successful and helped to restore public confidence in government after disillusionment of the Water Gate era. -
Spiro T. Agnew Resigns as Vice President
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. -
New Vice President
Gerald Ford was appointed by Nixon less than a year earlier. Ford is sworn in after Spiro T. Agnew resigns from being Vice President. -
Nixon leaving office
For months Nixon lied about the Watergate break in. He is faced with an outbreak of accusations. Nixon chose to resign before he could be impeached as president. This is how Ford came to be the new president of the United States. -
Ford is sworn in as president
After Nixon's resignation, Gerald Ford is sworn in as president of the United States. Ford became the first un-elected president in history. -
Ford's 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. -
Nixon is Pardoned
After being sworn in as president, Gerald Ford pardons former president Richard Nixon for any crime 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. -
A concluded presidency
Ford knew that it was a possibility that the pardon he gave Nixon could potentially hurt him in the upcoming election in 1976. Ford loses to Jimmy Carter. Ford exclaims that he was planning to retire that year anyway. -
Post Presidency
Ford stayed active after his presidency. He opened the Betty Ford Clinic in California to support the research, treatment, and rehabilitation for alcohol addicts. Gerald Ford died on December 26, 2006 at his home in California at the age of 93.
