Gerald Ford

Question 1

Presidential Style and Political Disillusionment- Success

Answer 1

Reputation for honesty- broke with Nixon administration when tapes released
Presented himself as a ‘regular guy’ with a normal family
Wife Betty Ford spoke openly about her breast cancer scare- relatable
71% approval rating entering office

Question 2

Presidential Style and Political Disillusionment- Failure (Press)

Answer 2

After Nixon pardon, the media made fun of Ford
Showed him falling over ski slopes
New Hampshire newspaper christened him ‘Jerry the Jerk’

Question 3

Presidential Style and Political Disillusionment- Failure (Scandal)

Answer 3

8th September 1974, pardoned Nixon
Worked to block Congressional investigations into financing of the break-in, approval rating dropped to 49%
VP Rockefeller’s commission (1974-5) found information about CIA assassination plots, Ford didn’t want it published, Senate monitored CIA instead.

Question 4

Problems with Congress- Opposition

Answer 4

Ford vetoed 66 bills in his 29 months presidency, Congress overrode his veto 12 times
Republicans in minority + no electoral mandate

Question 5

Problems with Congress- Inconsistencies

Answer 5

Initially advocated tax increases, only a few weeks later asked Congress to approve a $16 billion tax cut. Congress agreed to $7 billion, Ford accepted it
Lacked clear sense of direction, compromised too soon + too easily and lacked persuasion skill

Question 6

Economic Problems- Oil

Answer 6

1973, Global Oil Prices rose fourfold as a result of Yom Kippur War between Syria + Egypt and Israel
Prices dictated by Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
USA was badly hit, world’s greatest consumer of oil

Question 7

Economic Problems- Stagflation

Answer 7

Period of stagflation- high inflation and rising unemployment
Inflation in 1973-83, average of 8.2%
Unemployment at 6.5% in December 1974, but 8.9% by May 1975
Recession in 1975, tried to control economy through voluntary measures

Question 8

Foreign Policy

Answer 8

1974, Congress granted final $700 million in military and humanitarian assistance
Late April 1975, Communist forces overran Saigon
Ford ordered evacuation of US personnel and S.V citizens with links to the US
Televised- helicopters leaving from roofs, inc. from US embassy

Question 9

1976 election

Answer 9

Lowest turnout since 1948- 54%
Carter won 49.9% of vote, Ford won 47.9%
76% believed Ford lacked ‘presidential quality’, 80% said Carter was the same.
Carter carried Southern, union, black, and rural Protestant votes, but lacked strong mandate

Question 10

Why Did Carter Win?- Politics + Foreign Policy

Answer 10

Campaign based on lack of association with corrupt Washington scene
Claimed Ford ratified Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe

Question 11

Why Did Carter Win?- Economy

Answer 11

Americans concerned with the economy- Inflation in double figures, worried about oil shortages + gasoline prices
Economic slowdown announced just days before election

Question 12

Why Did Carter Win?- Vision

Answer 12

Carter said he would tackle big problems, like energy, welfare, health care, and urban decay
Ford never articulated a vision for America, when advisers prodded him, he was uninterested