August 9, 2004 marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning
of the Ford administration. On August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald
R. Ford took the oath of office as the nation's 38th president in a quickly
scheduled ceremony in the East Room of the White House, just minutes after
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had received Richard Nixon's letter
of resignation. It was a unique and historic day as power changed
hands. Benton Becker, currently a Trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation,
had the opportunity to accompany Gerald Ford through much of that historic
day as the vice president, then the new president, went from meeting to
meeting. He graciously consented to share his recollections in the
May 2004 issue of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation's newsletter.
A former Justice Department attorney, Becker served as
counsel to Congressman Ford on the occasion of his House and Senate confirmation
hearings for the Office of Vice President, under the then-recently ratified
provisions of the 25th amendment. Becker served as a personal counsel
to President Ford during the weeks preceding the swearing-in and the presidential
transition that followed. In that capacity he made several
recommendations for the disposition of President Nixon's papers and was
integral in stopping their destruction or shipment to San Clemente.
View Benton Becker's newsletter article
about the first day of the Ford presidency (PDF File - 407K)
View the text of President
Ford's swearing-in remarks (and listen to a sound bite)
Search
the Ford Library & Museum web site
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Last Updated: June 2, 2004