Gerald Ford served as the 38th United States President between 1974 and 1977. The only Vice President to assume office due to a resignation, Gerald Ford walked square into turmoil. Known to be amiable, decent and straight-forward, Ford could never get out from under the shadow of Watergate. Then he made the unfortunate mistake of pardoning Nixon (Americans never forgave him for that). Truth be told, the Watergate scandal was so all-consuming he hardly had any other choice. He needed to put it behind him so he could actually get some work done. Saigon also fell to communism during his administration and Americans had to evacuate (a great embarrassment on the world stage). Americans just wanted Watergate and Vietnam behind them so there was no chance in hell Ford would see a second term. His wife Betty (born Elizabeth) is known less for her First Lady duties than for the impact she’s made on alcoholic rehabilitation.
