An Unelected President

Early 20th-century history unfolded amid a cloud of instability over the United States. Politics across the country had been pushed to the brink by corruption. Between 1960 and 1980, no president completed a full term. The ‘wild horse’ of the White House remained beyond control. Presidential administrations faltered either at the very beginning or midway through their journey.

The year was 1972. The two political giants of the United States, the Democratic and Republican parties,

were just beginning to recover from the political turmoil of the previous era. After completing a successful first term, the 36th President, Richard Nixon (59), secured nomination for a second time. The Republican Party was determined to reclaim the White House, and its leaders and supporters were confident of victory.

Then came what would become the biggest political scandal in American history—the Watergate scandal. Its sweeping impact forced Nixon to resign within two years of his second term. With the fall of a political giant, the ruling Republican establishment was left in disarray.

In this moment of deep political crisis, Gerald R. Ford emerged like a shooting star in the White House’s destiny. Without any election, he became the 38th President of the United States and took charge of the country. Ford’s seemingly fortunate rise marked another remarkable chapter in American history. Just eight months before becoming president (December 6, 1973), he had been appointed Vice President. Even that second-highest office in the country came to him without a public election.

Full name Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. He is the only Vice President and President in U.S. history who was never elected by voters. He was born on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska.

The story behind the name Gerald Ford also carries a separate history—an expression of maternal affection overshadowed by deep paternal resentment. At birth, his legal name was Leslie Lynch King Jr., taken from his biological father, Leslie Lynch King Sr. Just months after his birth, his mother, Dorothy Ayer Gardner, divorced his alcoholic father following allegations of abuse. She moved with her son to her parental home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It was there that Dorothy met Gerald Rudolph Ford, a paint store owner. They married in 1916. From that moment, the child’s name was changed to that of his stepfather—Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.

On December 5, 1935, after graduating from college, he formally changed his name to Gerald Ford. Until his teenage years, Ford did not know his biological identity, as his mother had kept it hidden from him. She affectionately called him “Junior.” With the care of his stepfather, Junior soon became “Jerry.” According to Ford’s biography, he often recalled his mother and stepfather with deep affection, respect, and gratitude during the happiest moments of his life.

Neither the office of Vice President nor that of President is a small achievement in the United States. Yet Gerald Ford held both positions by fate—without an election, without a single vote. He never even contested for a seat in the Senate, let alone dreamed of entering the House of Representatives.

Early 1950s. Republican Party leaders in Michigan at the time encouraged Ford to contest a Senate seat—generally seen as a stepping stone to the presidency. Ford rejected the proposal.

He told his colleagues in response that his real ambition was to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. He described the position as his “ultimate achievement.” He considered it the highest honor to lead the 434 members of the House and to preside over one of the most powerful legislative bodies in human history. Reflecting on his political aspirations, he once said, “I believe this ambition developed within me within a year or two of serving in the House of Representatives.”

However, he failed. Despite repeated attempts over more than a decade, Ford could not secure the Speakership. Eventually, he promised his wife Betty that if he failed again to become Speaker in 1974, he would retire from Congress and politics altogether in 1976 and return to farming.

Little did anyone know that the disappointed man was about to witness a new sunrise in history.

Vice President Ford

On October 10, 1973, during President Richard M. Nixon’s second term, the administration was already under pressure. The Watergate scandal, linked to the bugging of the Democratic Party headquarters during the November 7, 1972 election, had left Nixon cornered. Adding further strain was a corruption scandal involving Vice President Spiro Agnew.

Agnew, who had served as Governor of Maryland from January 25, 1967, to January 7, 1969, resigned after facing federal charges of tax evasion and money laundering related to accepting $29,500 in bribes.

In search of a trusted figure during a politically difficult period, Nixon quickly turned to then House Minority Leader Gerald Ford. The move was far from simple; it required a constitutional process.

Under the 25th Amendment, Ford was nominated to replace Agnew as Vice President—the first such instance in American history. On November 27, the Senate approved his nomination by a vote of 92–3. On December 6, the House confirmed him by 387–35. One hour later, Ford was sworn in as Vice President of the United States.

When he agreed to accept Nixon’s nomination, Ford told his wife Betty that the vice presidency would be “a beautiful ending” to his political career.

Watergate Scandal

The story begins in early 1972. To secure President Nixon’s second-term victory, his aides went into action. The Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP) was led by John Mitchell, the former Attorney General. The committee focused on raising large funds and weakening the Democratic candidate.

CRP special counsel G. Gordon Liddy devised a plan to infiltrate the headquarters of the opposition Democratic Party. Mitchell reportedly agreed to allocate $250,000 for the covert operation. Along with his associate Howard Hunt, Liddy began planning intelligence gathering and information theft.

On June 17, 1972, late on a Friday night, a team of five men recruited by Hunt and Liddy broke into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters. The plan was to install listening devices and copy important DNC files. However, a night security guard alerted the police, and the five intruders were arrested.

On June 18, The Washington Post ran the headline that brought the scandal into public view—Watergate. The revelation sent shockwaves across the United States.

At first, President Nixon denied that any of his aides were involved in the break-in. However, evidence soon began to emerge linking the intruders to Liddy, Hunt, and the White House. Three months later, on September 15, a federal grand jury indicted the five burglars along with Liddy and Hunt on charges of conspiracy, burglary, and wiretapping violations. All except two pleaded guilty.

Unexpected President

In the turmoil of the Watergate scandal, Gerald Ford’s fate changed dramatically. The man who had once considered the Vice Presidency the end of his political career suddenly found himself poised to become the 38th President of the United States.

On August 1, 1974, after weeks of allegations and denials, White House Chief of Staff Alexander Haig visited Vice President Ford. He informed him that the so-called ‘smoking gun’ evidence had emerged in the form of secret Watergate tapes. Haig added that the recorded conversations left little doubt that President Nixon had taken part in the cover-up of the Watergate break-in.

At the time of Haig’s visit, Ford and his wife Betty were staying at their suburban home in Virginia, while renovations were underway at the Vice President’s official residence in Washington, D.C. With impeachment becoming increasingly inevitable, President Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974.

Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office the same day. In a nationally televised address from the East Room of the White House, Ford said, “I am acutely aware that you have not chosen me as President by your ballots. So I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers.”

Nixon Pardoned

On September 8, 1974, President Ford issued an unconditional presidential pardon to former President Richard Nixon, effectively absolving him of any potential crimes committed during his time in office.

In a nationally televised address, Ford explained the reasoning behind his controversial decision. He said the Watergate situation had become “a tragedy in which all of us have played a part.” He stated that it could either continue indefinitely or someone had to bring it to an end. He concluded that he had decided only he could act as he did, and if he could, he must.