In 1968, in the midst of violent anti-Vietnam war demonstrations and race riots,  Richard Nixon was elected president. He ran again in 1972 and during the campaign, the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. was burgled.

Following Nixon’s re-election, evidence that his administration knew of the break-in began to surface, and the public grew distrustful of his leadership. In the midst of this scandal, Nixon’s Vice President resigned over allegations of bribery when serving as governor of Maryland!

Enter Gerald Ford who had been a longtime friend and colleague of Nixon. Sharing similar viewpoints on defense and spending, Ford was an obvious choice to fill the vacant post and he became Vice President as the Watergate scandal began unfolding.

In August 1974, the president’s chief of staff contacted Ford to tell him that an Oval Office recording of Nixon discussing plans to impede the FBI’s investigation by falsely claiming the break-in was a CIA operation had been found. The tape left little doubt that President Nixon has been part of the Watergate cover-up.

Happier times: pictured above, from left, Richard and Pat Nixon, Betty and Gerald Ford on the day Ford was appointed Vice President of the US.

When Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Ford automatically assumed the presidency. This made him the only person to become the nation’s chief executive without having been previously voted into either the presidential or vice presidential office.

Mike and I enjoyed a super visit to the Gerald R. Ford museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan nearby to where we are currently staying.