Video: 'Ford sworn in as 40th Vice President of the United States and his remarks'
(Thursday, December 6, 1973, 6:09 p.m. EST; during the Watergate scandal) — Gerald Ford, pledging “equal justice for all Americans,” took office just after dusk tonight as the 40th vice president of the United States.
With President Richard Nixon standing right behind him, he was sworn into office in the 116-year-old House chamber, which has been his political home for the last 25 years.
Only an hour earlier, the House completed action on his nomination by voting 387 to 35 for confirmation. He was confirmed Nov. 27 by the Senate by a vote of 92 to 3.
Ford, 60, resigned his House seat before assuming the vice-presidency. He has been minority leader of the House since 1965.
It was clearly Jerry Ford’s day, and not even President Nixon’s appearance overshadowed the new vice president. The waves of applause and the smiles of his colleagues were seemingly beamed at him alone as he stood, in a trim navy blue suit, his right hand held high in recognition of old friends.
And, as he spoke, it was the Jerry Ford many of them had listened to through the years, speaking in a flat tone, declaring his love for his wife and his country and pledging his loyalty to his President.
The historic ceremony ended a vice-presidential vacancy that had existed since the resignation on Oct. 10 of Spiro T. Agnew just before he pleaded no contest to a charge of income tax evasion.
This is the first time that a vice president was chosen under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. The amendment, ratified by the states in 1967, provides for Presidential succession and for filling vice presidential vacancies.
The 25th Amendment was adopted to deal with situations such as that which existed following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. At that time, the vice-presidency stood vacant 13 months after Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded to the presidency.
Video: 'The Sensational 70s: 1973 (The Events of 1973)' (Ford at 33:06)
Ford heard none of today’s five hours of House debate, nor did he vote. He arrived in the chamber just minutes after the final vote had been cast and was greeted by thunderous cheers and applause—the first of many such ovations that he received today.
He then went to the White House to inform President Nixon of the vote, and the two men returned to the Capitol an hour later for the official swearing?in.
They were greeted by tumultuous applause as they entered the House chamber together.
A capacity crowd of 1,500 persons—Senators, Representatives, members of the Cabinet and of the Supreme Court, ambassadors and other foreign dignitaries and visitors—witnessed the brief ceremony.
Mrs. Nixon, accompanied by White House aides, sat with the four Ford children in the executive gallery.
As Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administered the oath, Ford rested his left hand on a Bible held by his wife, who wore a tangerine wool crepe dress. The Bible was purchased for the occasion by their son Michael, a theological student.
Later, in a brief speech, Ford drew a burst of applause from the Republicans as he pledged his full “support and loyalty” to the President. He also bade a “fond goodbye” to his colleagues in the House.
“I am a Ford, not a Lincoln,” he said, smiling. “My addresses will never be as eloquent as Lincoln’s. But I will do my best to equal his brevity and plain speaking.”
Ford pledged his dedication “to the rule of law and equal justice for all Americans” and declared, “I am not discouraged.”
Later, he led the Senators across the Capitol to the Senate chamber where he will serve in the one job given to a vice president under the Constitution—president of the Senate.
