Gerald Ford
Maggie Hohfeler
Becoming President
- In 1973, Nixon's Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned
- According to the 25th amendment, Nixon submitted to Congress approval for a new vice president Gerald Ford
- Ford became the first president to never have been elected
- The fact that he had been selected, not elected, caused feelings of illegitimacy around him
- Nixon resignation- August 8, 1974
- Ford pardon- Granted a pardon of Nixon for any crimes he committed
- People accused him of a buddy dealing
End of Vietnam War
- Early in 1975 North Vietnamese drove Southward
- Ford urged Congress to send more troops- they disagreed and did not
- Without US troops, the South Vietnamese fell quickly, so quickly that US troops and some Southern Vietnamese were helicoptered out- the last leaving April 29, 1975
- Ford admitted these South Vietnamese into the country and added more diversity to our already diverse country
- South Vietnam lost the war
- We pulled out- leaving Vietnam divided and stalemated
- US lost confidence in military prowess, lost self esteem, and was shown as weak in eyes of other countries