With the resignation of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford became President of the United States. A poor economy plus his pardon of Richard Nixon resulted in Ford barely losing the 1976 race for a full term of his own. After leaving office, Ford retired to Rancho Mirage, California. He wrote his memoirs and maintained an active speaking schedule, reportedly earning $10,000-$15,000 per appearance. He conducted a college lecture tour under a program sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute. He also served on the boards of several corporations and became co-chairman of the People for the American Way. There was excited talk of Ford running for Vice President on the ticket with Ronald Reagan in 1980, but the “dream ticket” never materialized. Ford did handle some assignments for Reagan after he became President in 1981, most notably when he joined former Presidents Nixon and Carter in representing the United States at the funeral of slain President Anwar Sadat of Egypt. Also in 1981, the Gerald R. Ford Museum opened in Grand Rapids and the Gerald R. Ford Library opened in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ford continues as a corporate director and public speaker.
Jimmy Carter is considered by many to be the best ex-President we have ever had. Jimmy Carter became President after narrowly defeating Gerald Ford in the election of 1976. In 1980, Jimmy Carter was soundly defeated for re-election by Ronald Reagan. Carter retired to his home in Plains, Georgia, to find the family peanut farm deep in debt as a result of its handling in a blind trust during his Presidency. He put the family business back in order and taught political science at Emory University, founding the Carter Center of Emory University in 1982. In 1986, The Carter Presidential Center was completed in Atlanta. It included the Carter Center of Emory University and the Jimmy Carter Library.
Carter is best known for his humanitarian work with Habitat for Humanity. Carter personally helped to build houses in New York City and around the country. The sight of Carter in work clothes and tool belt became a familiar one to many Americans. Carter engaged in many other humanitarian efforts. In 1991, he founded the Atlanta Project to coordinate government and private efforts to solve social problems that affect poor families.
Carter also participated actively in international affairs. Since the 1980’s, he has helped monitor elections in a number of nations. In 1991, Carter created
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