Gerald R' Ford

1
Gerald R. Ford

• 25.4

2
Ford Becomes President

• Appointed VP in Oct. 73
• Opposed govt spending (aid programs)
• Supported defense spending and measures for law
  order
• First non-elected President

3
Nixon Pardon

• Nixon would have been the 2nd impeached president
  (A. Johnson)
• Ford pardon Nixon for all offenses he might
  have committed, avoiding further prosecution

4
Would you pardon President Nixon? Why or Why not?
5

• Fords decision followed widespread criticism
• People suggested Ford bargained Nixons pardon
  for the Vice Presidency
• Public voted out Republicans in Congress in 74
  elections

6
Economic Problems

• Economy Stalls
• Stagflation Combination of high inflation and
  high unemployment, with no economic growth
• Economy was in a recession (shrinking)

7

• WIN Whip Inflation Now
• Save (dont spend), conserve fuel, plant
  vegetable gardens to counter high grocery
• Depended on people changing voluntarily
• Ford backed unemployment benefits and tax cuts

8

• Conflicts w/ Congress
• Democrats controlled the Congress
• Ford believed in limited govt
• Highest veto overrides since the 1850s

9
Foreign Policy Actions

• Kept Henry Kissinger as Sec. of State
• 1st to visit Japan
• Continued relations w/ China
• Developed relations w/ African nations now
  independent from colonial rule

10

• Southeast Asia
• War Powers Act 1973 law limiting a Presidents
  ability to involve the United States in foreign
  conflicts without receiving a formal declaration
  of war from Congress

11

• W/in 48 hours of committing troops to overseas
  combat, Pres. must notify Congress of reasons
  expected length
• Troops may not stay for more than 60 days w/o
  Cong. approval
• Cong. can demand the troops to come home

12

• Pres. wanted to help S. Vietnam when the North
  began a new offensive
• Congress rejected such action
• Communist Cambodia captured American merchant
  ship
• Ford sent marines to recover the ship and crew
• Dispelled the impression of American weakness in
  the region

13

• Europe and the Soviet Union
• Helsinki Accords Series of agreements on
  European security made in 1975
• US, Canada, USSR, and about 30 Euro. countries
  pledged to cooperate economically, respect
  existing boundaries, and promote human rights
• Continued limits on nuclear weapons

14
Nations Birthday

• Bicentennial the 200th anniversary of the
  approval of the Declaration of Independence
• Lifted the spirits of Americans w/ parades,
  concerts, air shows, and fireworks