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Footnotes on Ford. Did you know?. Gerald Ford was the first president who had not been elected as either president or vice president?
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Did you know? • Gerald Ford was the first president who had not been elected as either president or vice president? • Ford was Nixon’s appointee to replace Spiro Agnew, who had resigned and pleaded no contest to charges of bribery and income tax evasion in 1973 as Watergate was gathering steam.
Ford’s Abilities • Ford was competent but unimaginative as a president. • His first major act was his most controversial---the pardon of Nixon for “any and all crimes” committed while president. • Since Nixon had not yet been indicted, the pardon saved him from future prosecution.
Americans’ View of Ford • After Ford pardoned Nixon, many Americans said the act looked like a payoff.