Gerald Ford(1974-1977), Republican

Background• Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1913

• The only US President to become an Eagle scout

• Played football at University of Michigan

• Went to Yale Law

• Drafted in the Navy for War World 11

• Married Elizabeth Warren in 1948

• Became Minority Whip Leader in 1964

Commander in Chief

• Helsinki Accord- fused tensions in Cold War between Western and Eastern Europe.

• Egypt and Israel peace treaty

Grade= A

Criteria for A= open about defense and war situation

Ford= was straightforward with foreign affairs and war situation.

Chief Legislator

• Whip Inflation Now proposal (W.I.N)

• vetoes 66 times, only 12 overridden by Congress

• Watergate Class- all Democrat group that opposes everything Ford does

Grade= D

Criteria for A= Even if he doesn’t follow party lines, gets things passedFord= did not, vetoed unreasonably

Chief Executive

• pardons Nixon one month after going in office (*Note= to move on from trial and put scandal passed country)

• closed many foreign issues after Vietnam War because previous President’s abused power

• gained back trust in government.

Grade= C

Criteria for A= Uses executive authority carefully/ in crisis

Ford= used to help country, but not necessarily right time

Chief of Party

• stuck with party lines completely

• Does not get re elected when running against Jimmy Carter

• Congress party against him:

93rd Congress in 1974: Senate= Democrats-56 Republicans-42 Other: 2; H of Rep= 242-192-194th Congress in 1978: Senate= 61-37-2 ; H of Rep= 291-144-0

Grade= B

Criteria for A= President wins/retains his party control in Congress during midterm election

Ford= Stayed with party entire term but failed to get re elected.

Guardian of the Economy

• Economy already in worst state since Depression

• inflation gets worse

• tax reduction act passes but doesn’t work and makes huge deficit

• W.I.N.- failed at Congress

• kept switching opinion on taxes

Grade=F

Criteria for A= economy improves or stays good/stable over term

Ford= economy in horrible state and all attempts to fix it failed.

Chief Diplomat

• Helsinki Accords-trying to fix foreign affairs

• Egypt and Israel peace

• Emergency funds to South Vietnam before it fell to Communism

• Aid to Angola Anti-Marxist guerrilla fighters

note= both denied by Congress

Grade= B

Criteria for A= peaceful interactions with other countries

Ford= attempted with foreign peace settlements/ affairs, denied by Congress for most

Head of State

• Nixon pardoning developed biggest public opinion in his term.

• Assassination attempt in 1975

• Fun fact= fell several times in public appearances

Criteria for A= President is periodically portrayed in news because of speeches, solid public

figureFord= Wasn’t looked in good light as public figure

for letting Nixon get off easy.

Grade= C

Final Grade= C

• Economy didn’t get better.

• pardons Nixon too soon

• He did attempt to fix everything, but Congress was completely against him.

If he does win, we pick this face to carve into the monument >>

Works Cited List

• Composition of Congress, by Political Party 1855-2010. 2010. Infoplease. 1/09/2011. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html>

• Gerald Ford. 2011. Wikipedia. 01/07/2011/. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford>

• Gerald Ford. 2011. NNDB. 01/09/2011. <http://www.nndb.com/people/400/000022334/>

• Gerald Ford American Experience. 2009. PBS. 01/07/2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/38_ford/index.html>

• Gerald Ford History Articles. 2010 History.com. 01/08/2011. <http://www.history.com/topics/gerald-r-ford>

• Gerald Ford Speeches. not listed. History Place/ 01/08/2010/ < <httwww.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm>

• President Ford’s Pardon of Richard Nixon. 2009. Watergate Info. 1/09/2011. <http://www.watergate.info/ford/pardon.shtml>