Gerald Ford (1913-2006)

He replaced Richard Nixon who was forced to resign over the Watergate Scandal in 1974 and appointed Nelson Rockefeller as his Vice-President. He served for the remainder of the term but was defeated in the 1976 Presidential election by the Democrat Jimmy Carter. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and was named "Leslie Lynch King Jr." for his biological father. His parents separated when he was just two weeks old and when he was three his mother remarried Gerald Rudolff Ford and they began calling him "Gerald R. Ford, Jr." He officially changed his name in 1935. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in economics, and turning down professional football contracts from two NFL teams, he graduated from Yale Law School. He began his political journey after serving as a naval officer in World War II. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan in 1948, serving for 25-years.

In Congress, Ford established himself as a reliable conservative Republican, focusing on fiscal responsibility and defense issues. He rose through party ranks, becoming House Minority Leader in 1965 after challenging the incumbent leadership. Ford was known for his ability to work across party lines and his reputation for integrity, earning respect from both Republicans and Democrats. Ford's career took an unprecedented turn in 1973 when Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned amid corruption charges. President Richard Nixon nominated Ford under the 25th Amendment, making him the first unelected Vice-President in American history when confirmed by Congress in December 1973.

When the Watergate Scandal forced Nixon's resignation in August 1974, Ford became the only person to serve as President without being elected to either the presidency or vice presidency. As president, Ford faced significant economic challenges including inflation and recession. He also dealt with the final stages of the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon. Despite these difficulties, he was praised for restoring dignity to the presidency and helping the nation move past the constitutional crisis of Watergate. However, his decision to pardon Nixon after just one month in office proved highly controversial and likely cost him the 1976 election. He lost the 1976 election to Jimmy Carter but remained active in public service and business until his death. In 1948, he married Betty Ford (founder of the Betty Ford Center for alcohol and drug abuse) and had four children.