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Line 105: − Determined to win a term of his own, In 1976 President Ford defeated conservative [[Ronald Reagan]] in a long, hard-fought Republican contest. His Democrat opponent in the general election was former governor [[Jimmy Carter]] of Georgia. Beneficial to Ford, the economy was improving and inflation was being reduced. He portrayed himself as a post-Watergate healer. Although Carter was expected to win easily, Ford almost wiped out his lead by the end of the campaign. Carter won on November 2nd, narrowly defeating Ford 50%-48%. Carter payed tribute to Ford in his inaugural address. "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land."+ + + + Line 122:
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President Ford received heavy criticism for pardoning Nixon. Ford watched helpless 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 helpless 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]].
Ford was basically a conservative, pro-business, local activist who was 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. The nation rejected him and his foreign policy and his economic policies. Ford was scandal free, but marred by too many stumbles, literally and figuratively; he was one of a series of failed presidents in the 1960s and 1970s.
Ford was basically a conservative, pro-business, local activist who was 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. The nation liked him personally but rejected his foreign and economic policies. Ford was scandal free, but marred by too many stumbles, literally and figuratively; he was one of a series of failed presidents in the 1960s and 1970s.
==Early Life==
==Early Life==
''Main article: [[United States presidential election, 1976]]''
''Main article: [[United States presidential election, 1976]]''
==Reelection fails==
Ford, after overcoming a strong challenge for the Republican nomination from conservative [[Ronald Reagan]], replaced liberal Rockefeller with conservative Senator [[Robert Dole]] of Kansas, as his running mate. He campaigned on his record of having blocked expensive social programs and thereby slowed inflation.
Ford-the-insider was challenged by a complete outsider, [[Jimmy Carter]], a former Georgia governor who promised to restore trust in government, reduce unemployment, and shrink the federal bureaucracy. Beneficial to Ford, the economy was improving and inflation was being reduced. He portrayed himself as a post-Watergate healer. Ford accused Carter of being fuzzy on issues and of lacking experience in foreign affairs. However he agreed to nationally televised debates - the first between presidential candidates since 1960 and in one debate Ford blundered badly by insisting falsely that "there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe."
Although Carter was expected to win easily, Ford almost wiped out his lead by the end of the campaign. Carter won on November 2nd, narrowly defeating Ford 50%-48%. Ford is the only president who never won a national election. Carter payed tribute to his foe in his inaugural address. "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land."
==Post-Presidency==
==Post-Presidency==
==See Also==
==See Also==
[[Gerald Ford's 1976 Republican National Convention Speech]]
* [[Gerald Ford's 1976 Republican National Convention Speech]]
* [[Conservative Coalition]]
* [[Fifth party System]]
* [[Henry Kissinger]]
* [[Richard M. Nixon]]
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://geraldrfordfoundation.org/ Gerald R. Ford Foundation]
*[http://geraldrfordfoundation.org/ Gerald R. Ford Foundation]
*[http://www.ford.utexas.edu/ Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum]
*[http://www.ford.utexas.edu/ Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum]
==Bibliography==
* Abramowitz, Alan I. "The Impact of a Presidential Debate on Voter Rationality, " ''American Journal of Political Science,'' Vol. 22, No. 3 (Aug., 1978), pp. 680-690, advanced analysis of debate with Carter on unemployment, showing voters shifter their opinion to agree with Ford or Carter. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0092-5853(197808)22%3A3%3C680%3ATIOAPD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-I in JSTOR]
* Cannon, James. ''Time and Chance: Gerald Ford's Appointment With History'' (1998), the major biography
* Greene, John Robert. ''The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford'' (1995), 272pp, the standard scholarly survey. [http://www.amazon.com/Presidency-Gerald-R-Ford-American/dp/0700606386/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194388147&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Greene, John Robert. ''The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations'' (1992)
* Greene, John Robert. ''Betty Ford: Candor And Courage In The White House'' (2004) [http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Ford-Candor-Courage-Modern/dp/0700613544/ref=sr_1_10/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194388147&sr=8-10 excerpt and text search]
* Hayes, Stephen F. ''Cheney: The Untold Story of America's Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President'' (2007). pp 70-122 on role as senior aide to Ford; [http://www.amazon.com/Cheney-Americas-Powerful-Controversial-President/dp/0060723467/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194424418&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Mieczkowski, Yanek. ''Gerald Ford And The Challenges Of The 1970s'' (2005), 455pp; [http://www.amazon.com/Gerald-Challenges-1970s-Yanek-Mieczkowski/dp/0813123496/ref=sr_1_7/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194388147&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search]
* Schapsmeier, Edward L. and Frederick H. Schapsmeier. ''Gerald R. Ford's Date With Destiny: A Political Biography'' (1989), strongest on Congressional years.
* Suri, Jeremi. ''Henry Kissinger and the American Century'' (2007)
* Werth, Barry. ''31 Days: Gerald Ford, the Nixon Pardon and A Government in Crisis'' (2007), 416pp
===Primary sources===
* [http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/publications/ERP/ Council of Economic Advisors, ''Economic Report of the President'' (annual 1947- )], complete series online; important analysis of current trends and policies, plus statistcial tables
* Ford, Gerald R. ''A time to heal: the autobiography of Gerald R. Ford'' (1979)
* Greenspan, Alan. ''The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World'' (2007), memoir by senior economics advisor
* Kissinger, Henry. ''Years of Renewal'' (2000). 1152pp; in-depth memoirs of the Ford years; [http://www.amazon.com/Years-Renewal-Henry-Kissinger/dp/1842120425/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194399605&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
**Zelikow, Philip. "The Statesman in Winter: Kissinger on the Ford Years" ''Foreign Affairs'' (1999) 78(3): 123-128. Issn: 0015-7120 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Laird, Melvin R. "A Strong Start in a Difficult Decade: Defense Policy in the Nixon-Ford Years." ''International Security'' (1985) 10(2): 5-26. Issn: 0162-2889 Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org.proxy.cc.uic.edu/view/01622889/di008112/00p00147/0 in Jstor]
==References==
==References==
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