Micah Trautmann, Jesse Coleman, Pat Landry, Leah Korsemeyer
a) Ford the Steward
b) Leslie Lynch King Jr., later changed to Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. Ford was part of
the Republican Party and served as the 38th President of the United from 1974 to
1977.
c)
d) Gerald Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1913. After spending 25 years in
Congress and eight years as the House Minority Leader, he became a Vice
President and was the first Vice President to achieve presidency under the 25th
Amendment. He became president after Nixon resigned because of the Watergate
scandal. President Ford was a very forgiving man, granting Nixon full pardon of
his controversies. He had served in WWII and was a football star at the University
of Michigan and also served as an assistant coach. Ford was a president that was
much appreciated and when following president Carter stated in his inauguration
speech, “For myself and our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has
done to heal our land.” President Ford died in December of 2006.
e) Born on July 8, 1908, Nelson Rockefeller served as the Vice President in the Ford
Administration. In 1954, he became Eisenhower’s Special Assistant for Foreign
Affairs. He was also appointed head of the Operations Coordinating Board and
was in charge of supervising the CIA. He also became the Health, Education and
Welfare Assistant Secretary. In 1958, he became the governor of New York and
took liberal stances during his time being governor. Rockefeller was a supporter
of capitol punishment and was big on cracking down on drug trafficking. V.P.
Rockefeller died on January 26, 1979 from a heart attack.
f) Goals Generally Domestic Based
Mastering and Curbing Inflation
Reviving the depressed economy
Solve energy shortages
Achieving world peace (Israel and Egypt)
Aid businesses to work freely
g) September 8, 1974 – Ford pardons Nixon of all crimes related to the Watergate
Scandal. Caused great alarm among Americans who felt they could not
trust their government.
December 22, 1975 – Energy Policy and Conservation Act created. Helped
conserve gas by creating fuel efficiency standards.
July 4, 1976 – America’s Bicentennial celebration brought nostalgia for the past
and an uncertainty about the future.
h) Economic problems: rising unemployment, massive inflation (highest since Great
Depression), the worst bear market on Wall Street since WWII, and oil supply
fears. WIN (whip inflation now): one year surcharge on income taxes, cuts in
federal spending, and vetoing over 50 spending bills. Economic problems
continued to get worse throughout his presidency. Inflation did not come down
until after he left office when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates.
i) On Sept. 8th, 1974, Ford granted Nixon a full pardon for all Federal crimes he had
committed, which gave rise to a tidal wave of criticism in Ford’s direction. It
brought the Watergate scandal to an end, but served as a large blow to Ford’s
support. Ford’s approval rating plummeted to 36% in 1975 from the 71% he had
just a year earlier.
j) Worked to maintain the prestige of America after the collapse of South Vietnam
and Cambodia. Continued détente with the Soviet Union. Provided aid to both
Israel and Egypt. Preventing a war in the Middle East remained major goal. Set
new limitations on nuclear weapons with Soviet leader, Leonid I. Brezhnev.
k)
(http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/images/s03537u.jpg)
Analysis: The cartoon depicts Gerald Ford being dragged along by the forces of
inflation in recession, barely being able to hang on. This came after October 15,
1974, when Ford called for the American people to fight against inflation by
means of voluntary measures. The campaign failed and it was later announced the
country was in a recession. The cartoon shows President Ford unable to control
inflation and recession and that the two problems were running rampant. They are
shown trampling a homely looking man, which could represent the American
people.
l) Ford’s presidency was plagued from the start by a weak economy, national
embarrassment over the Watergate Scandal, and immense failure in Vietnam.
However, Ford was able to maintain respect for his presidency through his
peaceful intervention in the Middle-East and his continuing policy of détente with
the Soviet Union.