Gerald Rudolph Ford
The First Unelected President
Becoming President
Ford was made president solely by a vote of Congress in August 1974 with restrictions
Granted a complete pardon to Nixon for any crimes he committed, including the Watergate scandal
- Ford Pardon
- Democrats were outraged because they sought justice
- Nixon explained he wanted to end Nixon's private agony
Sought to keep the détente intact
July 24th: President Ford joined leaders for 34 other nations to sign historical accords
- Agreements officially wrote an end to WWII by legitimizing the Soviet-dictate boundaries of Poland and the East
- Soviets signed the "Third Basket" which guaranteed more liberal exchanges of people and information and protection of human rights
Moscow's restriction on Jewish emigrated in December 1973 prompted Congress to add restrictions to the US-Soviet bill
Americans were furious with Moscow's Double Dealing
- Did not give anything of comparable importance to America through the détente
- Continued to haul arm to procommunist countries
End of the Vietnam War
North Vietnam continued to pressure the South
President Ford asked Congress to send more weapons, but they refused
- South fell soon after due to lack of American support
Americans had to be quickly evacuated until April 29, 1975
South Vietnamese were also rescued and were allowed in the USA
American pride and power had been wounded due to this war