ENTER FORD

Two hours earlier, the East Room had been the setting for Richard Nixon's farewell speech to his Cabinet and the White House staff. In the interim, pictures of Nixon and his family and scenes from his triumphant Peking and Moscow visits had disappeared from the corridor leading to the Oval Office. They were replaced by pictures of Gerald Ford and his family. Now the East Room was filled again with 250 guests, a few of them still red-eyed from weeping at the emotional Nixon farewell. But there were many new faces, Republican and Democratic alike: the guest list included the entire Michigan congressional delegation, Ford's staff, friends, his maid and driver and all eleven of the incumbent Congressmen who were first elected with Ford in 1948.

Several of Ford's political friends, either by their choice or Nixon's, had not been in the White House for years: former New York Republican Senator Charles Goodell, a longtime Nixon foe; Michigan Representative Donald Riegle Jr., who deserted the G.O.P. to become a Democrat early in 1973; and Democratic Senator Philip Hart. The stage was set for the transfer of the world's most powerful political office from Richard Nixon, even then airborne over Missouri on his way to California and retirement, to Gerald Ford.

Shortly after noon, everyone in the East Room rose as a military aide announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Chief Justice of the United States." Warren Burger, who had been hastily summoned from a vacation in The Netherlands, strode into the room to administer the oath of office. Although his role was traditional, Burger's presence had special meaning. As Chief Justice, he was symbolic of the law and of the constitutional processes that, set in motion by the excesses of the President and the men around him, had inevitably led to the toppling of Richard Nixon. As Burger entered, the Vice President and Mrs. Ford were announced, and walked, amid thunderous applause, into the same stately chandeliered room Richard Nixon and his family had left a short while before.

The exit and the entrance were a poignant reminder of the smoothness with which the American system can transfer the world's most powerful office from one man to another. "Mr. Vice President," Burger intoned, "are you prepared to take the oath of office as President of the United States?" "I am, sir," Ford replied. Even before the Chief Justice asked him to do so, Ford raised his right hand, placing his left on a Bible held by his wife. It was opened to the Book of Proverbs, third chapter, fifth and sixth verses, which Ford says every night as a prayer.* Then, at 12:03 p.m., repeating the oath of office, Gerald Ford formally became the 38th President of the United States. (In fact, Ford assumed the presidency at 11:35 a.m., when Nixon's formal letter of resignation was delivered to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.)

"Congratulations, Mr. President," said Burger, and the audience rose to its feet in applause. Ford turned and kissed his wife on both cheeks. Then he delivered the land of inaugural address (see box page 13) that the U.S. surely needed--refreshingly candid, sincere, unpretentious and effectively crafted to ease national tension and clear the air of Watergate.

The President wrote his soothing, low-keyed speech--which he described as "just a little straight talk among friends . . . the first of many"--beginning late Wednesday night, with the help of his chief of staff, Robert Hartmann, and Speechwriter Milton Friedman. With genuine humility, Ford conceded that "you have not elected me as your President by your ballots," and asked that he be confirmed "with your prayers." He emphasized the need for truth and promised to follow his "instincts of openness and candor." Time and again Ford talked about his "friends," not once mentioning enemies, domestic or foreign. Implicitly, he criticized his predecessor by stating his belief that "truth is the glue that holds Government together." Ford acknowledged that that bond was "stained," both at home and abroad, and described the internal wounds of Watergate as "more painful and more poisonous than those of foreign wars." At the same time, Ford urged that Americans pray for Nixon and his family. His voice broke and his eyes clouded as he said: "May our former President, who brought peace to millions, find it for himself."

As Ford concluded, there was an almost tangible lifting of spirits in the East Room and across the nation. From the Congress that had repudiated Richard Nixon, there was al most universal acclaim. "It will undoubtedly bring the country together," said Senate G.O.P. Leader Hugh Scott. "It was magnificent." Agreed Mike Mansfield: "It was superb. He hit all the right notes. It was authentic Jerry Ford."

A Call from General

The week that was to elevate Ford to the presidency began rather routinely for him. Monday morning he addressed the Disabled American Veterans in New Orleans. As he flew back to Washington in his 1954 Convair turboprop, he received a call from White House Chief of Staff General Alexander Haig. For the first time, Ford learned that tapes soon to be delivered to Judge John J. Sirica contained statements by Nixon that directly implicated the President in the Watergate coverup. At that moment, Gerald Ford must have become aware that his accession to the presidency had suddenly become nearly certain. Aboard the Convair, he drafted a statement to the effect that "the public interset is no longer served" by his continuing to speak out on impeachment.

That evening, while having dinner with his family at their Alexandria, Va., home, Ford was notified that Nixon had called a Cabinet meeting for 10 a.m. Tuesday. But that morning Ford was able to attend a previously scheduled breakfast with eight young G.O.P. members of the House to discuss their concern about Nixon's economic policies. When the conversation briefly touched on the impeachment crisis, one Congressman reported, Ford gave the "distinct impression" that he was prepared to assume the presidency.

After the Cabinet meeting, Ford rushed to a luncheon meeting of the Senate Republican policy group. For the remainder of the day, as pressures for the President's resignation grew within the G.O.P., Ford carried on with his routine duties. He met with a group of Japanese legislators, then with officials of the National Association of Home Builders, and gave two long-scheduled interviews, one to Syndicated Society Columnist Betty Beale.

Ford's manner, however, had become anything but routine. Usually voluble with reporters, he refused to comment about Nixon's resignation or his political future.

On Wednesday, Ford again went through the motions of performing his vice-presidential duties, including a session with Navy Secretary J. William Middendorf and Admiral James Holloway. They presented him with a picture of the U.S.S. Monterey, on which he served during World War II. Interspersed with the routine were an urgent meeting and phone calls with Haig. Ford's staff members had been instructed to say nothing about the crisis, but some began to talk more openly about Nixon's resignation. "From any rational evaluation, it is bound to come," said a senior aide. Ford knew it too. That evening, he stood in his backyard looking at his swimming pool. "I really hate to leave this pool," he said wistfully.

Thursday morning, Ford crossed Pennsylvania Avenue to Blair House, where he presented Medals of Honor to families of seven soldiers who had been killed in Viet Nam. By now, Washington was swept by rumors of Nixon's imminent resignation. Cheering and applauding crowds assembled to catch glimpses of Ford. Then, shortly after 11, Ford was summoned to the Oval Office, where Nixon told him of his decision to resign. Immediately after that meeting, Ford called Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. "I would like to talk to you some time this afternoon," he said. "I want to talk to you about staying on. So think about that." Kissinger reassured the Vice President: "There will be no problem."

In their two-hour meeting that afternoon, Ford was characteristically simple and direct. "I need you," he told Kissinger, stressing that they had known each other for years* and that they could probably get along without any trouble. Said Kissinger: "It is my job to get along with you and not your job to get along with me." The two made plans for messages to go out to all nations, assuring them of the continuity in U.S. foreign policy.

That night, after watching Nixon's resignation speech on television with his family at home, Ford stepped outside into a slight drizzle to speak to reporters and about 100 cheering neighbors. "This is one of the most difficult and very saddest periods, and one of the saddest incidents I've ever witnessed," he said. It was obvious to all that he meant it. "Let me say that I think that the President of the United States has made one of the greatest personal sacrifices for the country and one of the finest personal decisions on behalf of all of us as Americans by his decision to resign." Ford announced that Kissinger, whom he called "a very great man," had agreed to stay on as Secretary of State. "I pledge to you tonight," Ford concluded, "as I will pledge tomorrow and in the future, my best efforts in cooperation, leadership and dedication to what is good for America and good for the world."

Friday morning, while his staff feverishly completed preparations for the swearing-in ceremonies, Ford had another meeting with Kissinger. He then recorded a message that he had been scheduled to deliver at a housing project in Los Angeles on Friday. After Nixon's emotional farewell to his staff, Jerry and Betty Ford walked with the departing President and First Lady to the helicopter on the south lawn of the White House. Obviously saddened, the Fords bade their farewells. After the helicopter departed, they walked together into the White House that was suddenly theirs./-

Following his Inaugural Address, Ford met briefly with congressional leaders, set the time for his address to a joint session of Congress this Monday, and returned to the White House reception to accept congratulations from his guests. Later, appearing in the White House press briefing room to introduce his new press secretary, J.F. terHorst, Ford noted that during the Nixon Administration the room had been built over the old White House swimming pool. He jokingly suggested that he might take steps to remedy that mistake. "You know my great interest in aquatic activities," he said. But, more seriously: "We will have, I trust, the kind of rapport and friendship we've had in the past."

Ford held successive meetings in the White House with his economic advisers (declaring that his No. 1 priority was to fight inflation), with Kissinger and members of the ambassadorial corps, and with a group of close advisers whom he appointed to handle the transition between Administrations (see story page 34). Because the Nixons had not had time to move their belongings out of the White House, Ford spent his first night as President at his Alexandria home, where a small group of old friends had gathered to celebrate.

The President in Pajamas

Next morning, early-bird celebrity-watchers were accorded an unusual sight: the President of the United States, clad only in a pair of baby blue summer pajamas, opening his door to look for his copy of the Washington Post (it arrived late and was passed into the Ford home by a Secret Service man). Seemingly unchanged by the week's events, he chatted with neighbors and reporters, and signed autographs. When would he move into the White House? "I didn't ask yesterday," he replied. "I felt it would not be very appropriate."

At 10 a.m. he presided over his first Cabinet meeting, and asked all the members to stay on and help in the transition from a Nixon to a Ford Administration. "I think we have a fine team here," he said. "I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you." Ford had just one directive: he wanted Cabinet members to adopt "affirmative" action in their press relations. Openness with the press, he said, was an effective way of demonstrating the drawing together of the country. Kissinger, speaking for the Cabinet, pledged "unflagging support and total loyalty to you."

It was a remarkable beginning--the beginning, perhaps, of a new style for the presidency. And it seemed to give prophetic meaning to the story that terHorst was writing for the Detroit News when he was asked to become press secretary. "Mr. Ford will not usher in a new era of Camelot or the big ranch scene," terHorst wrote. "Few will probably acclaim Mr. Ford as the brightest intellect ever to sit behind a desk in the Oval Office. But it may be possible that some will acclaim him as one of the most decent, the most honest and the most candid Chief Executives of recent memory."

* "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding./ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

* "They first met 15 years ago, when Kissinger asked Ford to talk to one of his Harvard seminars.

/-The Fords will move into the White House sometime this week.

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