Gerald R. Ford who became the 38th President of the United States in 1974, went through the worst American recession since World War II and the double digit inflation of 12%. Ford's administration failed to solve the nation's economic problems. Rising unemployment, inflation and the energy crisis led the nation to an economic decline. As a result, he replaced his first economic program with a plan that cut taxes as well as budget reductions. Although the cuts President Ford made to limit government spending, unemployment increased.