Gerald Ford was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. He was appointed Vice President after the resignation of Spiro Agnew and became President after the resignation of Richard Nixon. Ford was known for his moderate policies and his efforts to heal the nation after the Watergate scandal. He granted a controversial pardon to Nixon, which was criticized by many but also seen as a move to bring closure to the scandal. Ford also made significant appointments to the Supreme Court and was a strong advocate for human rights. Despite his efforts, Ford lost the 1976 election to Jimmy Carter.