Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the nation’s only unelected president and vice president, served thirteen terms in Congress before rising to national attention in 1973, when President Richard Nixon nominated him as vice president. Less than a year later, Ford became president, following President Nixon's resignation from office. The Fords made and celebrated history during their time in the White House, from the president's call for the construction of an outdoor swimming pool, to the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, to Susan Ford's prom at the White House. First Lady Betty Ford’s time in the White House was short yet her candor, activism, and spirit made a remarkable impact on the American people.