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Don't forget the second proscription of the clause:

... or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time ...

It is the pay increase (regardless of who authorized it) that disqualifies any sitting Senator or Representative from Cabinet (or other civil office) appointments.

The Nixon/Ford example wouldn't apply unless the pay (or other benefits) of the Office of the Vice President were increased. I don't know if they were ... but I'm betting they were not.

It would be easier for a House member, since their terms are only two years long. Ford was about 11 months into his term when he was confirmed to VP in December 1973. That doesn't leave much time to raise the pay for an office and still be ineligible for it.

That would mean that Senators have the worst it, with 6-year terms to outlast. I guess the lesson is, if you aspire to be appointed to a Cabinet position, don't be in the Senate first.

An opposition outgoing President could take advantage of this in the future by raising the pay of Cabinet positions by $1, thereby disqualifying opposing party Senators for consideration by an incoming President for up to 6 years. A really mean President can wreak havoc, since Congressional terms begin on Jan 3, and Presidential terms begin on Jan 20. Theoretically, an outgoing President could use Executive Order to raise the pay of Cabinet members by $1 on Jan 4, making any Congressmen chosen by the incoming President-Elect suddenly disqualified for the position, since they aren't officially nominated or confirmed until after the new President takes office.

-PJ