President Gerald R. Ford ('74-'77) 38th:
- Background:
- Nixon's vice president
- took over after Nixon resigned
- Only vice-president and president to never be elected
- Had two assassination attempts with in 3 weeks
- Assassination/Attempts:
- 2 women
- stopped to shake Lynnette Alice Fromme
- Elections:
- ran against Jimmy Carter
- Carter won
- Accomplishments:
- Pardoned Nixon-- a "corrupt bargain"
- Offered conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War draft dodgers who had fled to countries such as Canada
- "Whip Inflation Now" called for Americans to reduce their spending and consumption in an attempt to stop inflation
- Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975) established special education in schools throughout the US
- Continued to Detente with the USSR
- Ford wanted to help South Vietnam when North Vietnam invaded in 1974 but congress refused
- By april 1975 all of Vietnam was Communist
- Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance act
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