alternatehistory.com

Richard Nixon left Washington on the morning of August 9th and returned to California. Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States shortly after. After taking the Oath of Office, Ford declared to the American people that "Our long National Nightmare is Over." The new President, who was neither elected to the Presidency or the Vice Presidency, not only had the fall out of Watergate to deal with, but also had an economy in deep recession along with rising inflation. President Ford would start his Presidency with an approval rating of 71%.

On August 20th, Ford announced that after thorough vetting, he was nominating Texas Senator George Bush to be Vice President of the United States. His top competitor for the job was former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Bush said in a press conference that he was honored to be chosen to serve as Vice President and that he would work with President Ford to restore trust in Government. Bush would be confirmed by the House and Senate and sworn in on December 19th of 1974.

On September 8th, in what he felt was in the best interest of the Country, President Ford issued a full unconditional pardon to Former President Nixon. Ford, who years later, would justify the decision by saying Nixon's acceptance of the pardon was an admission of guilt, saw his approval ratings plummet. The economic woes that Ford inherited would also continue.