1. Gerald R. FordGerald R. Ford
August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977
The only president not elected asThe only president not elected as
either Vice-President or Presidenteither Vice-President or President
Created & edited by Steve ArmstrongCreated & edited by Steve Armstrong
SHS, 1994-2006SHS, 1994-2006
2. President Gerald R. FordPresident Gerald R. Ford
Gerald Ford wasGerald Ford was
sworn in as Presidentsworn in as President
on August 9, 1974on August 9, 1974
Ford retained a fewFord retained a few
of Nixon’s cabinet,of Nixon’s cabinet,
including Henryincluding Henry
KissingerKissinger
Appointed DonAppointed Don
Rumsfeld as Chief ofRumsfeld as Chief of
StaffStaff
Dick Cheney wasDick Cheney was
appointed Deputyappointed Deputy
Chief of StaffChief of Staff
3. Vice-President RockefellerVice-President Rockefeller
Liberal New YorkLiberal New York
Governor NelsonGovernor Nelson
Rockefeller wasRockefeller was
appointed vice-appointed vice-
presidentpresident
DemocratsDemocrats
threatened to notthreatened to not
confirm Rockefellerconfirm Rockefeller
Rumsfeld strived toRumsfeld strived to
keep Rockefeller fromkeep Rockefeller from
having a voice in thehaving a voice in the
Ford administrationFord administration
5. Ford with CIA DirectorFord with CIA Director
George BushGeorge Bush
6. Ford pardoned NixonFord pardoned Nixon
September 8, 1974, aSeptember 8, 1974, a
month after Nixon’smonth after Nixon’s
resignation, Fordresignation, Ford
granted Nixon a fullgranted Nixon a full
pardonpardon
President Ford’sPresident Ford’s
approval ratingapproval rating
slipped from 71% toslipped from 71% to
39% overnight39% overnight
Ford believed aFord believed a
pardon would endpardon would end
WatergateWatergate
7. President Ford’s early actionsPresident Ford’s early actions
President Ford issued aPresident Ford issued a clemency orderclemency order
to those who evaded the draft during theto 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 couldDraft evaders and military deserters could
now return to the USA and performnow return to the USA and perform
alternative (community) servicealternative (community) service
8. President Ford’s early actionsPresident Ford’s early actions
Freedom of Information Act was passedFreedom 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 accessThe FOIA allowed for more public access
to alleged government secretsto alleged government secrets
9. President Ford’s veto penPresident Ford’s veto pen
President Ford vetoed 39 bills in the firstPresident Ford vetoed 39 bills in the first
few months of his administrationfew months of his administration
5656 total vetoes were issued by President Fordtotal vetoes were issued by President Ford
Most vetoes were against spendingMost vetoes were against spending
increases proposed by the Democraticallyincreases proposed by the Democratically
controlled Congresscontrolled Congress
Ford vetoed a 1976 $6.1 billion spendingFord 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 federalPresident Ford wanted to control federal
spendingspending
10.
11. Sen. Frank Church’sSen. Frank Church’s
CommitteeCommittee
Sen. Church’sSen. Church’s
CommitteeCommittee
investigated abusesinvestigated abuses
of the nationalof the national
government since thegovernment since the
start of the Cold Warstart of the Cold War
Recommended thatRecommended that
restrictions be placedrestrictions be placed
on government coverton government covert
operations andoperations and
domestic spyingdomestic spying
12. 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 thePresident Nixon removed USA from the
gold standardgold standard
Post-war inflation rose from 5.9% in 1970Post-war inflation rose from 5.9% in 1970
to 9.1% in 1975to 9.1% in 1975
President Ford advocated hisPresident 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 theirChicago & Detroit lost half of their
manufacturing jobsmanufacturing jobs
13. Role of the Twin TowersRole of the Twin Towers
New York’s WorldNew York’s World
Trade Center twinTrade Center twin
towers weretowers were
completed in 1977completed in 1977
Signified a shift in theSignified a shift in the
American economyAmerican economy
14. New energy policiesNew energy policies
Alaska Pipeline wasAlaska Pipeline was
first proposed in 1968first proposed in 1968
completed in 1977completed in 1977
The pipelineThe pipeline
transported oil fromtransported oil from
Alaska’s north slopeAlaska’s north slope
to the port at Valdezto the port at Valdez
20. Other regulationsOther regulations
55-mph speed limit forced on all states55-mph speed limit forced on all states
This was the second most disobeyed lawThis was the second most disobeyed law
since prohibitionsince prohibition
21. Ford’s Foreign PolicyFord’s Foreign Policy
Ford met with Brezhnev in 1974 to lay theFord 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 peacelaying the groundwork for a future peace
agreement between Israel and Egyptagreement between Israel and Egypt
24. Helsinki Accords, August 1975Helsinki Accords, August 1975
Helsinki Accords were a series ofHelsinki Accords were a series of
agreements between the USA, Russia andagreements between the USA, Russia and
several other nationsseveral other nations
USA & USSR agreed to the post-WW IIUSA & USSR agreed to the post-WW II
division of Europedivision of Europe
Signatory nations agreed to respect theSignatory nations agreed to respect the
human rights of citizenshuman rights of citizens
The may have led to more anti-communistThe may have led to more anti-communist
agitation in eastern Europeagitation in eastern Europe
26. Squeaky Fromm, Sept 5, 1975Squeaky Fromm, Sept 5, 1975
President Ford isPresident Ford is
hustled away tohustled away to
safety after Squeakysafety after Squeaky
Fromm attempted toFromm attempted to
shoot himshoot him
27. Sarah Moore, Sept 22, 1975Sarah Moore, Sept 22, 1975
President FordPresident Ford
grimaces as a shot isgrimaces as a shot is
fired at him by Sarahfired at him by Sarah
Jane Moore in SanJane Moore in San
Francisco, CAFrancisco, CA
29. Ford selected Bob DoleFord selected Bob Dole
Sen. Bob DoleSen. Bob Dole
appealed to theappealed to the
conservative wing ofconservative wing of
the Republican Partythe Republican Party
Favored by RumsfeldFavored by Rumsfeld
30. The campaignThe campaign
Vice-PresidentVice-President
Rockefeller,Rockefeller,
campaigning for Bobcampaigning for Bob
Dole, reacted toDole, reacted to
college studentscollege students
heckling themheckling them
32. Ford-Carter DebateFord-Carter Debate
President FordPresident Ford
suggested thatsuggested that
Russia did not controlRussia did not control
eastern Europeeastern Europe