The Ford Presidency
Domestic Policy
Energy politics
Led to a complete gridlock of US politics-- bad relationship with Congress
1974 election saw a young, Democratic Congress
Congress wanted to impose government rationing of gasoline
Ford vetoed maintaining price controls and allocating gas for public transport
In response to the rising price of imported oil Ford wanted to make US oil cheaper
Democrats objected-- they claimed this would raise inflation and hurt the poor
Wanted to boost federal taxes and end oil prices controls
Strategies against unemployment
Worked for the summer of 1975 but inflation began to rise
Interest rates cut to 8%
Worked for tax cut legislation
Produced a deficit of $60 billion
CIA
Created a committee to look into domestic spying and questionable methods
Ford accidentally revealed the role of the CIA in assassinating foreign leaders to the press
Agents revealed many secrets
WIN
Failed miserably-- factories closed, demand dropped, and unemployment rose
Encouraged people to stop spending in order to reduce demand
Stood for "Whip Inflation Now"
Voluntary economic program
Nelson Rockefeller (gov of New York) as Vice President
Pardoned Richard Nixon
Foreign Policy
Middle East
Oil prices (controlled by Arab nations) rose sharply
Southeast Asia
South Vietnam falls to North Vietnam
Ford organizes Operation Babylift to remove Vietnamese orphans
Started a refugee crisis as people left on boats (boat people) to find safe places to settle
Did not intervene in the Khmer Rouge genocide
One exception: Khmer Rouge troops took over a US ship, the Mayaguez, so Ford sent in Marines to get the ship back
Soviet Union
Pursued nuclear treaties further
Led to SALT II
An agreement for both countries to limit their production of nuclear arms
Ford and Brezhnev were party to the Helsinki Accords
Ensure/enumerated the human rights people were supposed to have
Kept Henry Kissinger as Secretary of State
Said he would keep Nixon's foreign policy
Path to the White House
Presidential image is hurt by Nixon-- Nice Guy Presidenttm to replace him
Stagflation was a major issue
Public distrust in government
CIA could not keep secrets-- books and leaks
Nominated for vice presidency during Watergate, under the 25th amendment
Nixon resigned and Ford took over
Background
House minority leader in 1965
Served for 25 years in Congress after WWII
Fought in the Navy in WWII
Football player for the University of Michigan
