Before his accession to the presidency, Ford served as the 40th vice president of the United States from December 1973 to August 1974. Ford took the oath of office on December 6, 1973, not in the White House, as Nixon requested, but in the well of the House of Representatives. Sign Up Today: Get exclusive deals, product news, reviews, and more with the Mental Floss Smart Shopping newsletter! Ford's team allegedly wanted a heavy say on foreign policy matters; rumors later emerged that Kissinger would have become Secretary of State in the co-presidents' cabinets. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. This spooktacular zombie lawn decoration is sure to scare all of your friends, family, and neighbors alike. The majority of the pies ordered by Pizza to the Polls are funded by small donors giving $20 or less to the organization. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article contains affiliate links to products selected by our editors. Therefore, Ford became Nixon’s Vice-President. Celebrate your favorite holiday with a pair of adorable Jack Skellington and Sally plush dolls from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Get exclusive deals, product news, reviews, and more with the Mental Floss Smart Shopping newsletter. During his terms in other offices, suspicion grew that Agnew committed illegal acts that included bribery, income tax evasion, and other accusations. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Fact check:President Pelosi? His nomination was confirmed by 92-3 in the Senate and 387-35 in the House of Representatives. And if you'd like to benefit from the service, you can head to Pizza to the Polls' website to report a long line in need of sustenance when you're waiting to cast your vote. Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr was the thirty-eighth President (1974-1977). Elected to the House of Representatives in 1948, Ford represented Michigan's 5th District for nearly 25 years before suddenly finding himself at the crossroads of history. As President, Ford tried to calm earlier controversies by granting former President Nixon a full pardon. https://www.thoughtco.com/gerald-ford-38th-president-united-states-104667 President Gerald Ford had nominated Rockefeller for the post four months earlier. Most Americans do not remember him, a sad commentary about our knowledge of US history. The scandal and allegations also included charges of income tax evasion. After Richard Nixon later resigned due to the Watergate Scandal and other controversies, the path to the White House became an easy one for Gerald Ford. Yes, we should all thank President Ford for healing the nation. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. ( Log Out /  features built-in LED lights and sandbags to help it stay sturdy. Little did Nixon know what laid ahead for himself. Each tombstone is made with foam and designed to add a touch of spookiness to your space. President Richard M. Nixon was on the defensive about Watergate, his impeachment not just possible but likely, his vice president, Spiro T. Agnew, having already resigned amid corruption charges. Under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Ame… Due to a scandal unrelated to Watergate, Vice President Agnew resigned on October 10, 1973. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. On August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States, being next in line for the office of U.S. President. Sadly, President Ford has been lost between all of the controversies and stories of the last 50 years. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Nixon: The First President To Resign In American History, A Look Into The Future Past: 4 Failed Predictions From The Past, Hong Kong Operating Separately From China, Influential Woman: Joyce Banda First Female President Of Malawi, First African American Female In Congress, Shirley Chisholm. Trump won the Presidency despite trailing Hillary Clinton by 2.8 Million in the Popular Vote. Minutes later, Vice President Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the 38th president of the United States in the East Room of the White House. The Vice-President of the United States, Spiro Agnew, was caught up in an investigation that would lead to his downfall. On the 9th August 1974, Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United State despite never having contested a Presidential Election. P. S. You can hear CANTO TALK here & follow me on Twitter @ scantojr. After winning the Republican nomination, Nixon and Agnew defeated Democrats Hubert Humphrey and Edmund Muskie. Ford earned a degree from Yale Law School before serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II. Place the hook on a wall or tree, and expand the web using the stakes. As soon as becoming President Ford made an extremely controversial decision. You can also hang it outdoors over a tree or a (very tall) bush. It's true that Harris would assume the role of president, but she'd pick a new vice president. Most Americans do not remember him, a sad commentary about our knowledge of US history. On the Wednesday afternoon of the convention, Ford sat down for an interview with Walter Cronkite, and by the end of the recording, the whole nation had received signs that the "dream ticket" might be coming together. In the end, of course, the Reagan camp chose George H.W. Speaker of the House Carl Albert, a Democrat, would have served as acting President if Nixon had resigned without the 25th Amendment’s conditions being in effect. However, it is unusual for someone to become President without winning an election at all. Made with a combination of latex, plastic, and fabric, this durable Halloween prop is sure to last for years to come. Use tape, push-pins, or weights to prevent the signs from blowing away. "The Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President," it explains. And he had ripped through the competition throughout the primaries this time around. With a little guidance, you'll find plenty of ways to create the perfect ambiance at home without going for broke. Ford was he House Minority Leader and was a widely respected figure. Assuming she remains speaker, Pelosi would only become president if both Biden and Harris became simultaneously unable to serve as president. He was the only President who was never elected as either Vice President or President. Change ). A high-school football star in Grand Rapids, Ford attende… Upon becoming president, the former vice president would choose another individual to become his or her vice president. It became clear that Nixon would be impeached and would almost certainly be found guilty. (Tip: To prevent the zipper from breaking, fold the pillow in half before inserting. Most people thought the 1980 Republican National Convention would be a bit of a snoozer. On August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States, being next in line for the office of U.S. President. Demonstrating a hard-nosed attitude towards law and order and calling liberals “Un-American” appealed to Republicans at the time. In this post, Ira Riklis delves into the resignation that allowed Gerald Ford to become the 38th President of the United States. David Shribman wrote an article over the weekend reminding us of just how fortunate we were that Gerald Ford was the man who assumed the office: "He was the first vice president to move to the post under the 25th amendment, which provides for a president to fill a vacancy in the vice presidency and for that nominee to be confirmed by a majority vote of both houses of Congress. His mother, Dorothy, divorced King when her son was a baby and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly, A Conversation with Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, The 19th-Century History of Court Packing, Lynne Cheney: Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation, 2020 Liberty Medal Post-Ceremony Conversation. Turn your front lawn into a graveyard with this six-piece set. From giant spiders to hanging ghosts and lawn decorations, here are a few of our favorite props under $25. Interestingly, Ford is the only individual to serve as both U.S. Vice President and as U.S. president without ever being elected to either office. The Senate voted 92 to 3 to confirm Ford on November 27, 1973, and on December 6, 1973, the House confirmed him by a vote of 387 to 35. Instead, Ford made the transition to the presidency in 1974, with Albert as second-in-line to the White House for a brief period until Congress approved Nelson Rockefeller as Ford’s Vice President. Only Ford and his own vice president, Nelson A. Rockefeller, have become vice president by that route. On 9th August 1974, Nixon became the only US President to resign. It is not unusual for a President to win the election whilst not winning the votes of the majority of Americans. Jack stands at 28 inches tall, while Sally is a bit shorter at 21 inches. You can use these indoors, as well. Therefore, Ford became Nixon’s Vice-President. (And best of all, you can put the money you saved toward extra Halloween candy to stash away.). Ford became the first, and so far the only, person to become President without winning a general election for President or Vice President. He did restore the presidency and that's no small achievement. In fact, Ford was surprised when Cronkite brought the rumors up during their interview. 40 years ago, Gerald Ford became Vice President of the US following the resignation of VP Agnew. Made with thick linen fabric, these are durable, sturdy, and designed to last for seasons to come. If you're looking for a way to support the voting process during this year's election, donating a pie or two is a fun option. The case went before the Supreme Court who ruled 9-0 in Nixon v. United States that he had to hand over the tapes. "Let that sink in.". Reagan's camp had an offbeat choice to fill out the ticket: former President Ford. It is his pardon of Nixon that is widely believed to be a major reason he lost the closely fought 1976 Presidential Election to Jimmy Carter. Set them up on your sofa or against the window sill for all to see. I would give President Ford very high marks. These festive, statement-making banners come pre-assembled, making them incredibly easy to install. The tapes confirmed that although Nixon did not know about the burglary, he had attempted to cover it up. The user behind the post did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY. Why are conventions still an important part of the UK constitution. His resignation did not come voluntarily, however. This victory gave Nixon a clear mandate for his policies. However, this is exactly what happened on August 9th 1974 when Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States without having ever contested a Presidential Election. Just days earlier, he proclaimed that he “Will not resign if indicted!” yet he did just that. The Attorney-General of Maryland was investigating corruption by public officials. Display it on your doorway, across your fireplace mantel, or atop your table. Gerald Ford became president without an election. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Vice President Mike Pence 'can't wait' to be on debate stage with Kamala Harris, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, President Pelosi? As a result of the constitutional line of succession, Ford became President. Two other sets of Presidents died on the same day: James Monroe, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson on July 4, and Millard Fillmore and William Howard Taft on March 8.