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'''Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.''' (born Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) was the 38th [[President of the United States of America]], serving from August 1974 to January 1977.  He was the first president not elected to either the presidency or vice-presidency.  A Republican, Ford served as U.S. [[Representative]], 1948–73, and was the House Minority Leader from 1965 to 1973.  His most famous and daring decision was to pardon former President [[Richard Nixon]] of any crimes for the good of the nation.  Nixon appointed Ford as Vice President on the resignation of [[Spiro Agnew]].  When Nixon subsequently resigned as President, Ford succeeded him.  

'''Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.''' (born Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) was the 38th [[President of the United States of America]], serving from August 1974 to January 1977.  He was the first president not elected to either the presidency or vice-presidency.  A Republican, Ford served as U.S. [[Representative]], 1948–73, and was the House Minority Leader from 1965 to 1973.  His most famous and daring decision was to pardon former President [[Richard Nixon]] of any crimes for the good of the nation.  Nixon appointed Ford as Vice President on the resignation of [[Spiro Agnew]].  When Nixon subsequently resigned as President, Ford succeeded him.  

President Ford received heavy criticism for pardoning Nixon.  Ford watched helplessly as [[South Vietnam]] fell to a Communist invasion, after all American forces had been removed.  He promoted [[détente]] with the [[Soviet Union]], incurring the wrath of the conservatives, led by [[Ronald Reagan]]. He narrowly defeated Reagan for renomination in 1976 by the [[Republican party]], then lost narrowly to Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]].   

President Ford received heavy criticism for pardoning Nixon.  Ford watched helplessly as [[South Vietnam]] fell to a Communist invasion, after all American forces had been removed.  He promoted [[détente]] with the [[Soviet Union]], incurring the wrath of the conservatives, led by [[Ronald Reagan]]. He narrowly defeated Reagan for renomination in 1976 in the [[Republican Party]] primaries, then lost narrowly to Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]].   

Ford was a pro-business and local activist, and was known as a decent person and good family man; in his three years in office, he did much to heal the deep national wounds he had inherited from Nixon.

Ford was pro-business and a local activist, and was known as a decent person and good family man; in his three years in office, he did much to heal the deep national wounds he had inherited from Nixon.

However, Ford nominated [[John Paul Stevens]] to the Supreme Court – Stevens became one of its most left-wing justices.<ref>Watkins, William J. (July 29, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jul/29/how-misstep-can-shape-supreme-court/ How a misstep can shape the Supreme Court]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 29, 2019.</ref>

However, Ford nominated [[John Paul Stevens]] to the Supreme Court – Stevens became one of its most left-wing justices.<ref>Watkins, William J. (July 29, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jul/29/how-misstep-can-shape-supreme-court/ How a misstep can shape the Supreme Court]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 29, 2019.</ref>