RE: Gerald Ford VP:
I barely remember this about Ford:
Ford’s accession to the presidency left the office of vice president vacant. On August 20, 1974, Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller, the leader of the party’s liberal wing, for the vice presidency.
Rockefeller and former Representative George H. W. Bush from Texas were the two finalists for vice presidential nomination, and Ford chose Rockefeller in part due to a Newsweek report that revealed that Bush had accepted money from a Nixon slush fund during his 1970 Senate campaign.
Rockefeller underwent extended hearings before Congress, which caused embarrassment when it was revealed he made large gifts to senior aides, including Kissinger. Although conservative Republicans were not pleased that Rockefeller was picked, most of them voted for his confirmation, and his nomination passed both the House and Senate. He was sworn in as the nation’s 41st vice president on December 19, 1974.
Prior to Rockefeller’s confirmation, Speaker of the House Carl Albert was next in line to the presidency.
In the Gerald Ford Museum there’s a note about his app’t — paraphrasing, feral bitch Bella Abzug went to the Speaker and said, “don’t let those bastards keep this!” demanding that Ford be rejected and Congress just appoint Nixon’s new VP without regard to any of the pesky laws or anything.
Thanks!! It came back to me when I read your excellent post! I was in college at the time so I have an excuse for not remembering. Something to do with partying.