Ford Presidency Gerald Ford was sworn in as 38 th President of the U.S. After Nixon resigned from the presidency on August 8, He nominated Nelson Rockefeller, the longtime governor of New York as Vice President As a start, Ford hoped to convince the nation to forgive and forget the bitterness left by the Vietnam War The 1974 convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Nixon and his wife, Pat, are escorted by his successor, Gerald Ford, and his wife, Betty, as they leave the White House. Nixon was the first U.S. president to resign

After taking office, President Ford granted a pardon to former President Nixon The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 established public financing of presidential campaigns and imposed some restrictions on contributions to curtail the selling of political favors President Ford established new controls on covert operations, and Congress created permanent committees to oversee the intelligence agencies Serious economic problems: a low growth rate, high unemployment, a foreign trade deficit, and soaring energy prices Election Campaign of 1976

In the inaugural parade, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter become the first president and first lady to walk from the Capital Building to the White House. Earlier presidents rode in horse-drawn carriages or open cars

Jimmy Carter’s Presidency Jimmy Carter vowed “to help the poor and aged, to improve education, and to provide jobs,” but at the same time “not to waste money” Carter’s plan for budget balancing met with opposition from both Republicans and Democrats Energy and Environmental Reform – established the Department of Energy, The National Energy Act of 1978, expanded the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Data produced by geologists and engineers enable experts to estimate the size of “proved oil reserves,” quantities that recoverable with existing technology and prices In 1980, total worldwide reserves were estimated at 645 billion barrels

President Carter promised to reverse U.S. support of dictators, secret diplomacy, interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and excessive reliance on military solutions Carter’s foreign affairs – Latin America (Sandinistas & the Panama Canal) and the Middle East (Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin) In 1979 Carter formally recognized the People’s Republic of China Carter and Soviet premier Leonid Brezhnev signed a second strategic arms reduction treaty

Carter decided to pursue a military buildup when the Soviet Union invaded neighboring Afghanistan “Carter Doctrine,” threatening the use of any means necessary to prevent an outside force from gaining control of the Persian Gulf Shiite Islamic fundamentalists led by Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini The Iran hostage crisis dominated the news during the 1980 presidential campaign and contributed to Carter’s defeat

This billboard appeared in 1980, while Iran held American hostage in Teheran. Gasoline shortages and rising gas prices displeased motorist all over the country. The shortages and high prices were sparked by the Iranian revolution, which brought to power Ayatollah Roholla Khomeini, pictured in the billboard

Determination to preserve access to the rich oil reserves of the Middle East and commitment to the security of Israel were the fundamental – and often conflicting – principles of U.S. foreign policy in that region