Gerald R. Ford was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. He became president after Richard Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal. Ford was the only president in U.S. history who was never elected to the office, as he was appointed as vice president and then ascended to the presidency. Before his presidency, Ford served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 25 years. He was known for his integrity and efforts to heal the nation after the turmoil of the Nixon administration. Ford also faced economic challenges, including inflation and recession, during his time in office.