American History at the time of the Ford Administration
President Gerald Ford entered office in one of the most tumultuous eras of American history: the 1970’s. Rocked by government corruption, economic trials, and tense foreign affairs, the American people’s trust in their government had shattered. The era of the unified patriotism found in previous decades crumbled as injustice was unearthed in the 1960’s. In the following decade, this intangible undercurrent was exemplified by the Watergate scandal, growing opposition of the Vietnam War, and economic turbulence. Suddenly, Americans were faced with a “crisis of legitimacy” as they questioned the leadership that had betrayed their confidences (Kruse, Zelizer 7).
The Watergate scandal of 1972 launched Ford’s presidency in unexpected and alarming ways. Former President Nixon resigned, facing impending impeachment, due to his involvement and coverup in the scandal. What first appeared to be a “bungled burglary” (Kruse, Zelizer 8) was later connected to the president through the investigative journalism of reporters Woodward and Bernstein. Highly publicized by televised media, tape-recorded conversations in the Oval Office proved that Nixon and other high-ranking officials intentionally obstructed justice to further their political gains. Americans were stunned as their ultimate figure of leadership was disgraced publicly. President Ford rode “a wave of resignations to the top,” replacing not only Nixon, but also corrupt Vice President Agnew only a few months prior (Kruse, Zelizer 10). The previous presidential term was characterized by deep perversion of justice; Americans hoped Ford would bring transparency into office during his unprecedented term.
Ford’s “calm demeanor and reputation for integrity initially won him great credit [...] as exactly the kind of leader the country needed after Watergate” (Wilentz 28). A college football star, naval officer, and Yale law graduate, Ford was well-known for being an “open, regular guy, trustworthy to a fault” (Wilentz 29). Americans were starved for transparency and honest leadership, and it was these qualities that made Ford an appealing political figure in the beginning of his term. However, the question that “had bedeviled Ford from the moment he was sworn in” quickly reared its head: Nixon’s pardon. In attempts to heal the country and move past Watergate, Ford issued a blanket pardon for “any crimes he might have committed while in office” (Kruse, Zelizer 11). Americans were outraged--now it seemed as if Ford was “implicated in the crimes and their cover-up” (Kruse, Zelizer 11). His approval ratings plummeted as his name was added by many Americans to a growing list of presidents that further perpetuated political corruption.
While he eventually recovered from this major blow, Ford’s administration was still riddled with controversy, including the growing division caused by the Vietnam War. In the first two weeks of his term, Ford made the controversial decision to “grant limited clemency to young men who had evaded the military draft” (Wilentz 29). This action sparked controversy and was faced with opposition from both conservatives and liberals, and was largely considered a failure by the public as well as the program’s administrators. In the spring of 1975, the last of the American troops left Vietnam. Soon after, Vietnam became entirely communist. Americans questioned their role in preventing communism on a global scale, and emerging defeated from a drawn-out, deadly conflict compounded these doubts.
In addition to international issues, Americans faced the most dire economic crisis since the Great Depression. Stagflation, a dangerous combination of inflation and growing unemployment, left many Americans in desperate financial situations. The energy crisis was the chief problem that afflicted the U.S. economy, “in which America’s dependence on foreign sources of oil was exposed as a major liability” (Kruse, Zelizer 28). The oil embargo instituted by OPEC sharply awakened Americans to resources they once took for granted. Gas prices skyrocketed, and shortages pitted people against each other to fight for limited supplies. Ford’s efforts to combat the economic crisis focused on symbolism and ineffectively appealed to the patriotism of Americans, which was deeply depleted at the time. Polls of American’s trust in government institutions plummeted, “falling from a historic high of 80 percent of all Americans in 1966 to roughly 25 percent in 1981” (Kruse, Zelizer 34). Ford’s presidency was an uphill battle, attacked on all sides by the economic crisis, corruption within the government, international affairs.
Amidst this tumultuous era, a prominent figure worked to strengthen the Republican Party: Margaret Martin Brock. Involved in the GOP from 1948 onward, Brock regularly corresponded with Republican presidents ranging from Eisenhower to Reagan. During this time, Brock supported Ford’s presidency as well as Pepperdine University. The two came together during the 1975 dedication of the Brock House on Pepperdine’s Malibu campus, where President Ford spoke. Known for her tenacity and generosity, Brock worked tirelessly to support her political party and the other causes that were dear to her. While Ford faced challenges both domestic and international, Brock remained a steadfast show of support for Ford and the Republican Party as a whole.
Works Cited
Knox, Kelsey. “Margaret Martin Brock.” Digital Humanities, 24 February 2021, Pepperdine University. Lecture.
Kruse, Kevin M., and Julian E. Zelizer. Fault Lines: A History of the United States since 1974. 1st ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2020.
McAllister, Ted. “Gerald Ford.” Digital Humanities, 31 March 2021, Pepperdine University. Lecture.
Wilentz, Sean. The Age of Reagan: A History, 1974-2008. 1st ed., Harper Perennial, 2009.