Gerald R. FordRepublican

Ford’s background…

•U of Michigan Football star

•WW II - U Navy

•12 terms in the House of Representatives

•Served on the Warren Commission

•Nixon appoints Ford VP

•The 1st person appointed V.P. & President under the 25th Amendment.

•The only President to serve without being elected President or V.P.

Objectives…• Summarize Ford’s response to the

economic problems of the era.

• Identify the major reasons for Americans losing faith in the federal government.

“The trouble with Gerry Ford is that he used to play football without a helmet”

- LBJ

The 1970s Recession• The cause…

- In protest of the Arab-Israeli conflict OPEC embargoed oil exports to the

west.

- High oil prices trigger inflation and a deep recession

Inflation rose form 6% in 1973 10% in 197414% in 1980

• A term used to describe a sluggish economy…

-Price inflation

-Slow economic growth

-Rising unemployment

-Recession

Stagflation Stagnation & Inflation

The economy was bad and Ford lacked a clear vision for putting the economy back on track.

Ford’s plan to rejuvenate the economy…

• Stimulate economic growth• Stabilize interest rates• Raise taxes• Limit government spending

W.I.N. Whip Inflation Now

• Fight inflation by saving & spending less • Backfired: Americans stopped spending & the

economy slows even more

The Nixon Pardon Sept, 1974

• GRF gives RMN a full pardon• A corrupt bargain?... • Justification: Spare the country a painful trial• Nixon’s employees were not given pardons..

Most went to prison

“My fellow Americans, our long time nightmare is over. Our constitution works. Our great republic is a

government of laws, not of men” –Gerald R. Ford

The War Powers Act (1973)• Designed to control the

president's power to commit the US to a war without the permission of Congress.

• The president has 48hrs to inform Congress of a troop movements.

• Troops can remain for 60 days without Congress declaring war.

The Fall of Saigon April, 1975

• The American embassy in Saigon is evacuated

• This marks the end of the Vietnam War• Vietnam falls to communism

What is the overall intention of the War Powers Act...

To limit the power of the U.S. President in engaging in a conflict by requiring that he report troop movements and seek

Congressional permission after 60 days.

 In the 1970s, the combination of

rising prices, high unemployment & slow economic growth was

termed…..

STAGFLATIONHigh inflation, slow economic growth & high

unemployment.

President Ford’s most controversial act as

President was to…

Pardon Nixon for Watergate