A CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS
1974
August 9 - Gerald R. Ford becomes the 38th President of the United States
August 12 - President Ford appears before joint session of Congress. He urged Congress to cooperate in fighting inflation, and to use restraint in wage and price action. He admonished General Motors on price hike.
August 12 - President Ford exercised his veto power for the first time, vetoing a bill to upgrade deputy U.S. Marshals because it would create serious pay inequities with other Federal law enforcement personnel.
August 17 - President Ford signed his first legislation -- The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Act.
August 15-18 - President Ford received his first visit by a foreign head of state -- King Hussein of Jordan.
August 20 - The President selects former Governor of New York, Nelson A. Rockefeller, to be his Vice-President.
August 22 - President Ford proclaimed August 26 as Women's Equality Day, declaring that "Americans must deal with those inequities that still linger as barriers to the full participation of women in the Nation's life."
August 22 - Signed "with great pleasure" a bill "of perhaps historic significance" substituting a single block grant for community development for seven categorical programs such as urban renewal and model cities.
August 28 - President Ford holds his first press conference as President.
September 8 - President Ford pardons former President Richard Nixon in the national interest.
September 16 - The President announced his program to give Viet Nam era draft evaders and military deserters a chance to earn return through performing alternative service. His programs included establishment of a Clemency Review Board to review cases of those already convicted by a military court.
September 18 - The President addressed the 29th session of the United Nations General Assembly, declaring that "We are committed to pursuit of a more peaceful, stable and cooperative world."
September 20 - President Ford announced appointment of Ronald H. Nessen as his Press Secretary.
September 28 - The President announced formation of the Economic Policy Board to oversee formulation, coordination, and the implementation of all economic policy.
October 9 - President Ford sent Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger on a peace-seeking mission to the Middle East.
October 15 - The President signed the Federal Elections Campaign Act Amendments of 1974.
October 17 - President Ford appeared before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice to review the facts and circumstances that were the basis for his pardon of former President Richard Nixon.
November 17 - The President departs for visit to Japan -- the first visit to that country by an American President -- and to South Korea and the Soviet Union.
November 23 - President Ford and Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R., meet in Vladivostok, U.S.S.R. Progress is made toward a comprehensive 10-year pact for curbing offensive nuclear weapons.
November 24 - Ford and Brezhnev reach a tentative agreement to limit the number of all offensive nuclear weapons.
December 2 - Ford announces details of an agreement reached between himself and Brezhnev which puts a "firm ceiling" on the arms race.
December 10 - The Senate confirmed the President's nomination of Nelson A. Rockefeller as Vice President.
December 16 - President Ford and French President Giscard d'Estaing announce their plan for the two countries to coordinate energy policies.
December 17 - Following the U.S. Steel Corporation decision to raise prices 10 percent, President Ford orders Wage and Price Control Council to investigate and obtain justification for such action.
December 23 - U.S. Steel says it will lower price increase after Ford Administration's challenge.
December 27 - The President signed a bill creating a temporary Commission to study the paperwork generated by the Federal Government.
1975
January 1 - President Ford signed the Privacy Act of 1974, representing an advance in protecting a right precious to every American the right of individual privacy.
January 1 - The President announced his intention to nominate James T. Lynn as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
January 3 - President Ford signed the Trade Act of 1974, reaffirming the deep American commitment to an open world economic order and interdependence as essential conditions of mutual economic health.
January 4 - The President named a Blue Ribbon panel, chaired by Vice President Rockefeller, to review CIA activities.
January 9 - President Ford signed an executive order establishing a National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, 1975.
January 13 - The President proposed $16 billion tax cut. He said the Nation must fight inflation, recession and energy dependence.
January 14 - The President announced his intention to nominate Edward H. Levi as Attorney General and William T. Coleman, Jr. to be Secretary of Transportation.
January 15 - President Ford delivered his State of the Union message before a joint session of Congress, describing the State of the Union as "not good." He called for support of his programs for a tax cut and for energy independence, and asked Congress not to tie his hands in foreign policy.
March 10 - Carla A. Hills was sworn in as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
March 20 - Saigon forces withdrawing from the North in disorderly retreat.
March 27 - U.S. airlifts refugees from Vietnam.
March 29 - The President announced in an address to the Nation his decision to sign the Tax Reduction Act of 1975, providing for a $23 billion tax cut.
April 4 - Unemployment at 8.7 percent. Eight million out of work. Highest point since 1941. President Ford will recommend extension of unemployment compensation benefits.
April 15 - Cambodia falls to Khymer Rouge.
April 24 - Vietnam war officially ends.
April 25 - President Ford urges Congress to extend the General Revenue Sharing program.
May 12 - Cambodia seizes U.S. merchant ship, Mayaguez. Military action ordered by the President successfully rescues ship and crew.
May 28 - President Ford departs on trip to Europe for NATO summit meeting and to visit Spain, Italy, and Austria to meet with President Sadat of Egypt.
June 6 - Unemployment peaks at 9.2 percent in May. Number employed increased for second month.
June 19 - President Ford authorized establishment of the President Ford Committee to promote his nomination for election in 1976.
June 19 - The President sent Congress a special message outlining a program to combat crime.
July 15 - President Ford sends a message to the Soviet Cosmonauts and the American Astronauts, hailing their joint space mission as "blazing a new trail of international space cooperation."
July 19 - President Ford formally announces his candidacy for election in 1976.
July 26 - The President departs on his second trip to Europe -- "a mission of peace and progress" -- for visits to West Germany, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia, and to Helsinki to meet leaders of 34 other nations and sign the final act of the European Security Conference.
August 8 - David Mathews sworn in as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.
September 4 - Under the auspices of President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger, Egypt and Israel sign second-stage Sinai withdrawal agreement in Geneva.
September 27 - Privacy Act takes effect.
October 6 - President Ford tied new tax cuts to spending Cuts. In a television speech, he asked reduction of $28 Billion in taxes and in spending.
October 8 - The President asks Congress to establish a National Commission on Regulatory Reform.
October 20 - GNP grew at an annual rate of 11.2 percent during the third quarter.
October 29 - President Ford urges financial restraint and review for New York City. Refuses to support Federal help for New York at this time. Proposes bankruptcy legislation.
November 2 - To increase efficiency and effectiveness of the Administration, President Ford rearranges the Cabinet. Kissinger gives up National Security Council post. Schlesinger and Colby resign.
November 4 - President names Rumsfeld to Defense, Richardson to Commerce, Bush to CIA, Scowcroft to NSC, Cheney as White House Chief of Staff. Rockefeller withdraws name for consideration for Vice President.
November 15 - President Ford to Paris for economic summit.
November 20 - President awaits New York City/State move before giving aid. Awaits "concrete action."
November 26 - New York Legislature votes tax increase. Banks and teachers union agree to joint plan to avert New York City default.
November 27 - Citing new spirit of cooperation by New York officials President Ford asks $2.3 billion U.S. loans for New York City to help finance plan to avert default. Trade surplus for 9th consecutive month. Exports in October topped imports by $1.08 billion. Productivity gaining.
November 29 - The President departs for visits to People's Republic of China, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
December 7 - President Ford announces in Honolulu a Pacific Doctrine of "peace with all and hostility toward none."
December 17 - President Ford Opposes U.S. combat role in Angola War.
December 19 - Soviets to continue paying higher prices for U.S. grain.
December 21 - President Ford succeeds in fight over tax cut bill. Temporary tax cut enacted.
December 22 - President Ford signs Energy Policy Conservation Act.
December 31 - The President formally proclaimed 1976 as the Bicentennial Year.
1976
January 3 - President Ford vetoes common situs picketing bill.
January 6 - Administration announces the President will name Anne L. Armstrong as Ambassador to the Court of St. James.
January 19 - President Ford delivers State of the Union address to Joint Session of Congress -- proposes "new realism" -- broader role for State and local governments -- greater individual initiative -- a stronger defense budget.
January 24 - President Ford underwent his annual physical examination which he said he passed with "flying colors".
February 7 - Labor Department announces the unemployment rate substantially lower in January -- the biggest monthly decline since late 1959. Jobless rate declined to 7.8 percent from 8.3 in December.
February 17 - The President announced reorganization of the Government's intelligence community "with a comprehensive set of public guidelines" for all intelligence activities.
February 18 - President Ford sent to the Senate for ratification a treaty with Spain providing for continuation of U.S. use of military bases in Spain.
February 19 - The President limits U.S. surveillance of citizens' lives
February 25 - President Ford sent to Congress a special message proposing legislation to consolidate Medicaid and 15 categorical Federal health programs into a $10 billion block grant to the States.
February 26 - President Ford edges past Reagan by 1,250 votes in New Hampshire primary, taking 17 of 21 delegates, Begins a string of victories before a loss in North Carolina.
March 17 - President Ford proposes legislation to virtually end Federal electronic surveillance of American citizens.
March 24 - President Ford sends a message to the Congress requesting a special supplemental appropriation for the production of a vaccine to combat swing influenza,
March 27 - President Ford declared today he will not "play Russian roulette" with national security by allowing Congressional Democrats to cut his military spending.
March 30 - President Ford threatens to veto any defense spending bill that he deems inadequate.
April 16 - President Ford resolves inter-agency dispute in favor of a fast buildup of the country's first strategic oil reserve as a protection against another foreign embargo.
April 20 - GNP for first quarter of 1976 has 7.5 percent "real rise". First quarter figures show inflation rate at 3.7 percent.
May 14 - President Ford urges Congress to adopt timetable for fundamental and extensive reform of government's regulatory program and agencies.
May 18 - President Ford officially revises Federal Elections Commission clearing way for resumption of Federal campaign subsidies.
May 28 - President Ford signs treaty on underground nuclear explosives with Soviet Union, controlling and limiting number of nuclear test explosions.
June 5 - Joblessness cut to 17-month low. 7.3 percent out of work in May.
June 24 - President Ford sends sweeping busing legislation to Congress.
June 27 - President Ford hosts Economic Summit in Puerto Rico. Issues call for a worldwide economic effort.
July 4 - The President leads the Nation's Bicentennial celebration. Speaks at Valley Forge and Independence Hall; reviews the tall ships in New York.
July 7 - Queen Elizabeth visits the President.
July 15 - Visit by Chancellor Schmidt.
July 17 - Administration issues revised economic forecasts showing better prospects for inflation and unemployment.
July 21 - Viking I lands on Mars.
July 21 - During the first six months of 1976 inflation rate was cut to 4.6 percent from the 12.2 rate in the latter part of 1974.
August 6 - Labor Department announces that employment rose by more than 400,000 in July to a new record high of 87.9 million, up 3.8 million from March 1975 recession low.
August 19 - President Ford nominated by Republican National Convention for election November 2nd.
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