Gerald Ford — 38th President of the United States

38th President of the United States, Republican

Gerald Ford

Term: Aug 9, 1974 – Jan 20, 1977

Gerald Ford (1913–2006) was the thirty-eighth president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. He is the only person to have served as president without being elected to either the presidency or the vice presidency: he was appointed vice president in 1973 under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment following the resignation of Spiro Agnew, then became president on August 9, 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned. His presidency centered on stabilizing an economy facing high inflation and recession, and in 1975 the United States signed the Helsinki Accords. In September 1974 he granted Nixon a full pardon for any crimes he might have committed as president — a decision that was widely debated and is often cited as a factor in his defeat in the 1976 election.

Bio: Wikipedia

“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.”

Gas prices during the Ford presidency

At inauguration
$0.55
Aug 1974
On leaving
$0.63
Jan 1977
Change
+13.2%
−3.3% in 2026 dollars
Average
$0.58
$3.57 in 2026 dollars
Peak
$0.63
Sep 1976
Low
$0.53
Nov 1974

U.S. average, regular grade · Aug 1974 – Dec 1976

Nominal U.S. national averages including taxes (EIA / BLS); regional prices vary widely. Compare all presidencies on Gas Prices by President.