Ford sworn in as 38th U.S. President, asserts ‘nightmare is over’ 40 years ago this hour (Aug 9 1974)


Video: 'Swearing in Ceremony of Gerald R. Ford as 38th President of the United States, August 9. 1974'

(Friday, August 9, 1974, 12:03 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States today, declaring that “our long national nightmare is over.”

Calling upon the nation to “bind up the internal wounds of Watergate,” he said, “Our Constitution works. Our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”

Ford assumed the powers of the presidency at 11:35 a.m., the moment that Nixon’s letter of resignation was handed to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Then at 12:03 p.m., Ford was administered the oath of office in the historic East Room of the White House by Chief Justice Warrren E. Burger before an overflow crowd.


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