Ford Administration

• Gerald Ford was a veteran, football player, and Nixon’s VP. He was the only president who wasn’t voted into office by election and pardoned Nixon’s crimes.

  Betty Ford was very politically active and was supportive of women’s rights despite her husband being a Republican. She spoke publicly about her past alcoholism and drug use trying to bring awareness to it.

  She was an advocate for health services and abortion rights. Many clinics in the country are known as Betty Ford clinics because of her wanting awareness.
• Having a first lady who was vocal about her issues was good because the people could relate (Women and Addicts).
• Ford is inheriting only half of a presidency (last 2 years).

  Domestic Agenda- he’s going to fight corruption but him pardoning Nixon is viewed as enabling corruption.

  At this time, Cointelpro breaks into the files and steal multiple papers and post them publicly. Pentagon Papers (Vietnam) and other confidential information was stolen. When Congress was ready to file a report of this theft, Ford redacted 87 pages.
• Ford tries to solve stagflation by coming with WIN (Whip Inflation Now). It made things worse as it caused unemployment to go up instead of down. Tried to keep gov’t spending low but he agreed to a stimulus package because the economy was in danger.
• Inherits a lot of problems and bad administration.

  South Vietnam lost the war, genocide happens in Cambodia, Ford can’t really do anything about it because he lacks allies in Congress.

  He was a weak leader, didn’t have the long term experience in congress that he needed.
• Someone tried to assassinate him but failed.

  Squeaky Fromme- part of Charles Manson‘s cult.

  Charles Manson- thought he was Jesus, called the end of the world the event when black people would win against white people and that Manson would rise up as their leader.

  He was mentally ill, failed musician, he was wondering when the race war would happen.
• Charles Manson had his people break into Sharon Tate’s home and kill her and her friends. He was confused why the race war didn’t happen so he decided to kill more white people, government found out The Family was responsible and arrested most of them.
• Squeaky Fromme was a member of The Family and would go to the jail with Manson in it and sing creepy songs.

  She walked up to Ford and tried to shoot him but the gun jammed.
• Election of 1976- people didn’t like republicans or democrats, both whom their representatives lied to them.

  Democrats chose Jimmy Carter, gov. of Georgia, well-known in Georgia, very genuine and personable. He’s never been in DC and is new to the Executive role.

  Jimmy Carter wins the election.
• Claimed that he would declassify documents containing info about UFOs and aliens but he never did.