Ford did pick a VP. It was Nelson Rockefeller.
When the VP is serving as Acting President he is still VP, and the Amendment continues to refer to him as such. Because he is still VP, the office of Vice President is not vacant. Therefore no VP can be appointed. Think about it… if serving as Acting President meant he was no longer VP, then when the President resumed his duties the VP would be out of a job.
Let's also not forget one detail: The President does NOT appoint a VP in the way a Governor can appoint someone to fill a vacancy in the Senate.
The President NOMINATES and a majority of both chambers of Congress must confirm the new Vice President.
-PJ
I don't even remember that, mainly because I had left the D.C. area shorty before Nixon was removed in that soft coup.
I kind of turned my back on politics until Reagan ran.