The United States Looks Ahead

Life of Gerald Ford Born : Omaha Nebraska 1913 Grew Up in: Grand Rapids, Michigan Education: University of Michigan, Yale Military: Lieutenant Commander in Navy WWII Occupation: Lawyer Married: Elizabeth Bloomer Political Party: Republican Died: December 26, 2006

Gerald Ford Becomes President Takes Oath August 9, 1974 Nixon Resigns Ford takes Oath First man to become President without being elected President or Vice-President! First Vice-President to be chosen by 25th Amendment Problems Facing the United States People’s faith in the honesty and integrity of their political leaders were shaken Congress and Executive Branch at odds Economy sank to the worst recession since WWII Inflation Soared

The New President Ford’s 25 years in Congress gave him the knowledge and wisdom about how Washington Functioned Ford Wanted to put an end to: Watergate Problems Restore people’s faith in their gov’t Cure the Nation’s Economic ills – biggest inflation Promised to run an Open Administration and to work with Congress

The New President Cont Ford took office on Television, he reminded the nation’s voters that: “Since they have not chosen him, he has a special duty to earn their confidence”

Selecting a Vice President Under 25th Amendment – Ford had to pick a new Vice President, which has to be confirmed by both houses of Congress Nelson A. Rockefeller– New Vice President Liberal Republican Grandson of John D. Rockefeller Ran for President 1964 and 1968 Served Presidents in both Parties from FDR to Eisenhower 1958-1973 – Governor of NY

Domestic Affairs Two acts done within weeks of his Presidency that would cost him public support 1. Pardoning Nixon Granted Nixon a Full Pardon Ford feared that unless the people and the gov’t put Nixon and Watergate behind them, it would be impossible for him to govern effectively

Domestic Affairs Cont. 2. Clemency Announced a program of Clemency for those who deserted the Armed Forces or evaded the draft during the Vietnam War They would not be punished – if they took the oath of Allegiance to the United States, and did 2 yrs of alternative service in jobs that “promoted national health, safety, or interest” Since plan was not an outright pardon – most of the 124,000 draft violators refused Ford’s offer Many Americans felt that these men who ran away from their duties must be punished!

Domestic Affairs Cont. Controlling CIA and FBI Watergate and impeachment hearings led to serious crimes against CIA and FBI Ford appointed a commission under Vice President Rockefeller to study the CIA Committees in House and Senate started their own Probes of the CIA and FBI

Domestic Affairs Cont. Controlling CIA and FBI cont Studies showed under 6 presidents - FDR to Nixon – FBI abused their powers Without legal permits agents tapped telephones Read private emails Broken into buildings Places listening devices in homes and offices Kept records on thousands of innocent people

Domestic Affairs Cont. Controlling CIA and FBI cont Also spying on Americans – opening their mail Experimented on unsuspecting people with dangerous mind-control drugs Abroad- worked secretly to bring down a democratically elected, Marxist regime in Chile Then denied doing so to Congress Accused of having plotted to assassinate unfriendly foreign leaders

Domestic Affairs Cont. Why we needed CIA and FBI CIA – gathers information from every part of the world FBI- enforce Federal Laws Congress wanted to oversee both agencies Ford set up an Intelligence oversight board Made up of three private citizens to monitor CIA House and Senate had their own committee Congress worked on laws to define more strictly the activities of these two agencies

Domestic Affairs Cont. Other Gov’t changes 1. Freedom of information act – passed 1966, strengthened with amendments 1974 & 1976 Gov’t agencies and dept. had to give copies of documents in their files to anyone who asked Only a few exceptions for: National Defense Foreign Policy Law enforcement

Domestic Affairs cont 2. Privacy act – 1974 Gave citizens right to see info about them and correct it WITH THESE LAWS – US GOV’T BECAME MOST OPEN IN THE WORLD!

Domestic affairs cont. 3. Federal Election Campaign-Funding Reform Act – 1974 Limit size of political contributions Provided federal funds for candidates in presidential primaries and elections 4. War Powers Act -1973 President must inform House and Senate within 48 hours of putting Troops where they may fight President must bring troops home in 90 days unless both Houses voted them to stay.

Domestic Affairs Cont. 5. Budget and Impoundment Act- 1974 President could not “impound” funds – could not refuse to spend money Congress had voted Nixon did this late in his Presidency This law created: Congressional Budget Office (CBO)- provide Congress with its own income and expense figures Previous legislators had received budget figures from the President and had no way to check accuracy Alice Mitchell – Professional economist – appointed head of dept.

Domestic Affairs Cont. Problems with Economy Biggest Problem Inflation Ford Believed gov’t spending kept prices going up Used his Veto power 66 times to try to help Largest factor in the inflation was the price of oil

Domestic Affairs Cont. Oil and Inflation Until 1953 the U.S produced more oil than it used As economy expanded we used more than produced Nation would need more and more imported oil