The swearing in of President Gerald Ford (left) by Supreme Court
Chief Justice Warren Burger. First Lady Betty Ford looks on.

In accordance with his statement of resignation the previous evening, Richard
M. Nixon officially ended his term as the 37th president of the United States at
noon on this day in 1974. Before departing with his family in a helicopter from
the White House lawn, he smiled farewell and enigmatically raised his arms in
a victory or peace salute (below). The helicopter door was then closed, and the 
Nixon family began their journey home to San Clemente, California. Nixon was 
the first U.S. president to resign from office. Vice President Gerald R. Ford 
was sworn in as the 38th president of the United States in the East Room of 
the White House. After taking the oath of office, President Ford spoke to the
nation in a television address, declaring, “My fellow Americans, our long 
national nightmare is over.”

Pres. Gerald R. Ford addresses an audience in the East Room of
the White House after being sworn in as the 38th president of the
United States.

Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.(Leslie Lynch King Jr.)
(July 14, 1913 – December 26, 2006)