
President Richard M. Nixon's resignation was tendered to United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at 11:35 a.m. At that moment, Ford technically became the 38th President of the United States, although he took the official oath of office at 12:05 p.m. Once Nixon left the building, the White House staff began preparations for Ford's swearing in. More chairs were added because a much larger crowd of guests were invited than were at the farewell. The oath was administered to Ford by Chief Justice Warren Burger in the White House East Room. Chief Justice Burger was traveling in the Netherlands at the time, and was flown back to Washington on an Air Force plane.
Ford followed with an 850 word address in which he said:
I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, and 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 campaigned either 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 Betty, as I begin this very difficult job... My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over... Our Constitution works. Our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. 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.
The first phone call that President Ford, a former center on the University of Michigan football team, made after his inauguration was on Saturday, August 10, 1974, to Ohio State University football coach Woody Hayes, who had just recently suffered a heart attack.
Following is a YouTube video of the inauguration and inaugural address of President Ford: