The decision was to pardon Richard Nixon.
Gerald Ford was am American politician who served as the 38th President of the United States. He is the only person who served as Vice President and the President without being elected by the Electoral College.
On September 8, 1974, he issued a pardon for any crimes or unlawful doings committed by the former President Richard Nixon in association with the Watergate affair. This decision was highly controversial as many believed it was done in order to guarantee Ford's presidency. Some internal dealings between Ford and Nixon were also put into scrutiny.
As a result of this decision, Ford lost the 1976 presidential election and the support of many Americans, and his approval rates dropped significantly.