Final answer:
Gerald R. Ford was appointed Vice President by President Nixon after Spiro Agnew's resignation due to tax evasion. Ford later became President following Nixon's resignation amidst the Watergate scandal and one of his first acts was to pardon Nixon.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Nixon selected Gerald R. Ford to become his Vice President after Spiro Agnew was found guilty of tax evasion. Spiro Agnew resigned in October 1973 during the escalating Watergate investigation. Nixon appointed Gerald Ford, a Michigan congressman known for his integrity, to replace Agnew as Vice President. This decision was made under the terms of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, which allows for the appointment of a new vice president in the event of a vacancy.
Nixon's subsequent resignation due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal elevated the unelected Ford to the presidency. Ford, taking office after the unprecedented resignation of a sitting president, was the only chief executive never elected either as president or vice president. One of Ford's first presidential actions was granting a full pardon to Richard Nixon, which brought a mixed reaction from the public, suspecting a possible quid pro quo and leaving many Americans feeling that Nixon's wrongdoings would never be fully disclosed.