The Ford Presidency

Gerald R. Ford takes the oath of office as the 38th President of the United States in the East Room of the White House, August 9, 1974. Mrs. Betty Ford looks on as Chief Justice of the United States Warren Burger administers the oath.

The members of the Ford family pictured on the White House grounds. From left, standing: Steve, a son; Susan, a daughter; Jack, a son; Michael's wife Gayle; and Michael, a son. The president and the first lady are seated.

President Gerald Ford signs a document granting former President Richard M. Nixon "a full, free and absolute pardon" for all "offenses against the United States" during the period of his presidency. President Ford signed the document Sunday morning, Sept. 8, 1974 in his White House office.

President Gerald Ford and his daughter Susan sit on the White House lawn October 6, 1974, watching "Liberty," a golden retriever, given to the president by his daughter and White House photographer David Kennerly. Ford, who wanted to eliminate the trappings of an 'imperial' presidency, made a point of being photographed in everyday settings.

President Ford holds up a WIN enlistment form which asks citizens to sign up as inflation fighters during his news conference in the White House Rose Garden, October 9, 1974. WIN stands for Whip Inflation Now.

President Gerald Ford shakes hands with Leonid Brezhnev Nov. 24, 1974 after the Soviet leader tried on Ford's fur coat in Vladivostov, just prior to the two leaders' formal meeting.

President Gerald Ford congratulates Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller, right, after he was sworn-in on the floor of the Senate in Washington, D.C., Thursday night, Dec. 19, 1974. Rockefeller is the 41st vice president of the United States.

President Gerald Ford delivers his first State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress, Jan. 15, 1975. Sitting behind President Ford are Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, left, and Speaker of the House Carl Albert.

Having a chat before teeing off on tee one of the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic in Inverrary, Fla., Wednesday, February 26, 1975, are Jack Nicklaus, Jackie Gleason, President Gerald Ford, and Bob Hope, left to right. The president played with the group in the Pro-Celebrity event.

President Ford lands on his hands, June 1,1975, after slipping and falling on a wet ramp, while deplaning Air Force One in Salzburg, Austria. A military aide, grabs the president to help break the fall. The president's wife, Betty, is at left.

On two separate trips to California in September 1975, Ford was the target of assassination attempts. Both of the assailants were women -- Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Sara Jane Moore. Here, during the second attempt, President Ford ducks behind his limousine and is hustled into the vehicle after a shot was fired as he left the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, Sept. 22, 1975.

Chinese leader, Communist revolutionary Deng Xiaoping,Vice premier, center right, walks with U.S. President Gerald Ford, center left, during Ford's arrival in Beijing Dec. 1, 1975. Accompanying President Ford are George Bush, U.S. Ambassador to China, extreme left; Henry Kissinger Secretary of State, fourth from left; Betty Ford, behind President Ford, and Barbara Bush, extreme right.

This is the 1976 official portrait of President Gerald Ford, pictured in the Oval Office at the White House, March 9, 1976.

President Ford and first lady Betty Ford pose with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip outside the North Portico of the White House in Washington on July 7, 1976. The Fords hosted a state dinner for the Queen of England in the Executive Mansion.

President Ford and Sen. Robert Dole, the nominee for vice president, celebrate on the podium at the GOP Convention Aug. 19,1976 in Kansas City as balloons surround them. Mrs. Ford is at right.

President Gerald Ford, right, gestures Aug. 26,1976 as he introduced his campaign team to newsmen in Vail, Colo. At left, is Richard Cheney, then the White House chief of staff, and center, is Jim Baker, who was named the new chairman of the Ford election committee.

President Gerald Ford speaks as Jimmy Carter listens during the first of three televised debates in October 1976, held at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater. The other two were held in San Francisco, Calif. and Williamsburg, Va.

President Gerald Ford, speaking with a hoarse voice in the White House Press Room in Washington, November 3, 1976, concedes defeat to Jimmy Carter. First Lady Betty Ford read a telegram to a gathering of reporters that Ford had sent to the victor. From left; Susan Ford; Michael Ford, Ford, Mrs. Ford, and Gayle, Michael's wife, who is partly obscured.

President Gerald Ford, flanked by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, left, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, right, hold his first post election cabinet meeting in the White House Nov. 5, 1976. In foreground, are Attorney General Edward Levi, left, and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, right.

President and Mrs. Ford pause in their packing at the White House, on January 19, 1977, for a moment together.