scheduling information for c-span's tv networks and c-span radio, plus a variety of compelling podcastss. c-span now is available at the apple store and google play. skin the qr code to download today or visit c-span.org/c-spannow. c-span now, your front row seat to washington anytime, anywhere. we take you know to august 9, 1974, president richard nixon had announced his resignation the evening before amid the ongoing watergate scandal. vice president gerald ford exited his to nixon down the white house into the south lawn to a waiting helicopter. he then headed to his swearing-in ceremony in the east room of the white house. at noon, chief justice warren burger admitted the oath of office. president ford then delivered remarks before gathered family, political dignitaries, and the press. it was the shortest presidential

inaugural speech since abraham lincoln's second inaugural in 1865. >> ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of the united states and mrs. ford. [applause] [applause] [applause]

mr. vice president, are you prepared to take the oath of office as president of the united states? >> i am, sir. >> raise your right hand and repeat after me. i gerald r. ford do solemnly swear. that i will faithfully execute. the office of president of the united states. and will to the best of my ability. preserve, protect, and defend. the constitution of the united states. so help me god. >> congratulations, mr. president. [applause]

[applause] ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states. [applause] pres. ford: mr. chief justice, my dear friends, my fellow americans, the oath that i have taken is the same oath that was taken by george washington and

by every president under the constitution. that i assume the presidency under extraordinary circumstances never before experienced by americans. this is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts. therefore, i feel it is my first duty to make an unprecedented compact with my country. not an inaugural address, not a fireside chat, not a campaign speech. just a little straight talk among friends. and i intended to be the first of many. i am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots. so i ask you to confirm me as your president with your

prayers. and i hope that such prayers will also be the first of many. if you have not chosen me by secret ballot, neither have i gained office by any secret promises. i have not campaign for the presidency or the vice presidency. i have not subscribed to any partisan platform. i am indebted to no man and only to one woman, my dear wife. as i begin this very difficult job, i have not sought this to norma's responsibility, but i will not shirk it. those who nominated and confirmed me as vice president were my friends and are my friends.

they were of both parties elected by all the people enacting the constitution in their name. it is only fitting then that i should pledge to them and to you that i will be the president of all the people. thomas jefferson said the people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. and down the years, abraham lincoln renewed this american article of faith asking, is there any better way for equal hope in the world? i intend to monday next to request of this speaker of the house and the president pro tem for of the senate the privilege of appearing before the congress to share with my former colleagues and with you, the american people, my views on the priority business of the nation and to solicit your views and

their views. and may i say to the speaker and the others, if i could meet with you right after these remarks, i would appreciate it. even though this is late in an election year, there is no way we can go forward except together. and no way anybody can win except by serving the people's urgent needs. we cannot stand still or slip backwards. we must go forward now together. to the people's and the governments of all friendly nations, and i hope that could encompass the whole world, i pledge an uninterrupted and sincere search for peace. america will remain strong and united.

but it strength will remain dedicated to the safety and sanity of the entire family of man as well as to our own precious freedom. i believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government, but civilization itself. that bond is unbroken at home and abroad. i expect to follow my instincts with openness and candor with confidence that honesty is always the best policy in the end. my fellow americans, our long national nightmare is over. our constitution works. our great republic is a government of laws and not of man.

here, the people rule. but there is a higher power. by whatever name we honor him, who ordains not only righteousness, but love, not only justice but mercy. as we bind up the internal wounds of watergate, more painful and more poisonous than those of foreign wars, let us restore the golden rule to our political process and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate. in the beginning, i asked you to pray for me. before closing, i ask again your prayers. for richard nixon and for his family. may our former president, who

brought peace to millions, find it for himself. may god bless and comfort his wonderful wife and daughters, whose love and loyalty will forever be a shining legacy to all who bear the lonely burdens of the white house. i can only guess of those burdens, although i have witnessed at close hand the tragedies that befell three presidents and the lesser trials of others. with all the strength and all the good sense i have gained from life, with all the confidence of my family, my friends, and my dedicated staff, and with the goodwill of

countless americans i have encountered in recent visits to 40 states, i now solemnly reaffirm my promise i made to you last december 6. to uphold the constitution, to do what is right as god gives me to see it right, and to do the very best i can for america. god helping me, i will not let you down. thank you. [applause] [applause]

[applause] [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2025] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> if you ever miss any of c-span's coverage, you can find it anytime online at c-span.org. videos of key hearings, debates, and other events feature markers that guide you to interesting and newsworthy highlights. these points of interest markers appear on the right-hand side of your screen when you hit play on select videos. the timeline tool makes it easy to get an idea of what was debated and decided in washington. scroll through and spend a few minutes on c-span's points of interest. american history tv continues our look at historic inaugural

speeches. the year is 1977 and former democratic governor jimmy carter of georgia had defeated republican president gerald to win the white house. mr. carter's inauguration was the loud -- was the last to be held on the east portico of the u.s. capitol. since then, they have been held on the west front. the inaugural crowd had sunny skies with temperatures in the high 20's. for decades later, jimmy carter became the first president mark the 40th anniversary of his own inauguration. he died sunday december 29, 2024 at his home in plains, georgia. coverage from january 1977 begins with the swearingen by chief justice warren burger. [applause] >> governor carter, are you prepared to take the constitutional oath? >> i am. >>