Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency on August 9, 1974, that same day Vice President Gerald Ford was inaugurated as the thirty-eighth President of the United States. In his inaugural address Ford declared "Our long national nightmare is over."
Ford Grants Nixon Presidential Pardon
On September 8, 1974, President Ford granted Richard Nixon a full pardon for any and all crimes he may have committed while serving as President of the United States.
Nelson Rockefeller Appointed Vice President
In September of 1974 President Ford nominated New York Governor Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller for Vice President. Rockefeller's nomination was confirmed by Congress on December 19, 1974.
Fall of Saigon
In the spring of 1975 North Vietnamese launched their last major offensive against the South. Saigon fell to the communists in April of 1975. North and South Vietnam were unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in July of 1976.
Mayaguez Incident
On May 12, 1975 the American merchant ship Mayaguez was sailing in the Gulf of Siam when it was set upon and captured by the Cambodian navy. President Ford ordered that the ship and its crew be released, and then sent the Marines to attack Tang Island where the ship had been taken. The Mayaguez and its crew of 39 were freed, but the attack cost the lives of 41 American servicemen.
Assassination Attempts
While speaking in Sacramento, California on September 5, 1975, President Ford was targeted for assassination. The would-be assassin, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a follower of convicted mass-murderer Charles Manson, aimed a loaded pistol at the President, but was disarmed by a secret service agent before she could fire. Later in that same month the President was again targeted for assassination, this time by a political activist named Sara Jane Moore. On September 22, Moore fired a pistol at the President as he was leaving the lobby of a San Francisco hotel. The bullet missed the President and hit a by-stander who only received minor wounds. Moore was apprehended by the secret service before she could fire another shot. The two assassination attempts were not found to have been related. Both women were found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Legislation
Legal Clemency for Draft Dodgers and Deserters
In September of 1974 President Ford instituted a policy through which draft dodgers and deserters could take an oath of allegiance to the United States and serve either two years public service, or two years in the armed services to be legally cleared of their offense.
Whip Inflation Now (WIN)
President Ford launched his Whip Inflation Now (WIN) campaign in October of 1974. With the WIN program the federal government established a number of general price and wage guidelines designed to curb inflation. To show their support for the program citizens were asked to wear WIN buttons.
Campaign Reform
In October of 1974 Congress passed a number of campaign reform laws. Under the new laws presidential campaigns were to be publicly financed, limits were placed on how much private citizens and Public Action Committees (PACs) could contribute to a candidate, and candidates were required to make full financial disclosures of their campaigns. A Federal Elections Commission was established to see that all of these new laws were being strictly enforced.
Helsinki Agreement
In 1975 35 five nations from the East and West, including the United states and the Soviet Union met in Helsinki, Finland for the Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. At the conference the Western nations agreed to recognize the boundaries of Eastern Europe as they had been set after World War II, and promised not to interfere with the socialist governments of Eastern Europe. The East in turn agreed to ease travel restrictions.
Federal Government Bails out NYC
In November of 1975 Congress agreed to lend New York City $2.3 billion in order to help it avert bankruptcy.
Energy Research and Development Administration
Congress established the Energy Research and Development Administration in 1974.
Oil Duty
Congress placed a duty on all foreign oil imports in 1975 to curb oil consumption. In conjunction with the oil import duty all federal price restrictions on domestically produced oil were removed.
Congressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office was created in 197 to ensure Congress' right to control the federal budget.
Freedom of Information Act
Congress passed the Freedom of Information Act in 197 to enable the press and private citizens to request the declassification of government documents.
