Gerald Ford

1974-19761974-1976

Nixon Pardon

• Only a month after taking office– “full, free, and absolute pardon” for any crimes he

“committed or may have committed or taken part in”

– Ford said he was not doing this in sympathy for Nixon, but to avoid more division in the country• Wanted to allow the nation to move on and heal• Was NOT a popular decision with American public;

approval rating dropped sharply

Foreign Policy

• Helsinki Accords: NATO and Warsaw Pact nations met– Agreed to recognize borders set in eastern Europe

after WWII– USSR agreed to allow more basic human rights

and more freedom to move across borders• Soviets did not honor these agreements• Many Americans turned against Détente

• Mayaguez Incident:– Cambodia seized American cargo ship

(Mayaguez); claimed it was a spy ship– Ford sent marines in to retrieve ship• Cambodia released before US arrived

Election of 1976Election of 1976

• Carter Wins