Gerald R. Ford’s rise to the presidency was historic. Appointed vice president by Richard Nixon after Spiro Agnew resigned in disgrace, in 1973, Ford was then sworn in as president on August 9, 1974, after Nixon resigned. He became the first president to hold office without ever having been elected by the people. Ford announced: “Our long national nightmare is over,” and then he immediately set about restoring credibility to the position. In a controversial gesture to heal the nation—and to prevent a lengthy trial—he pardoned Nixon of any wrongdoing.