Final answer:
Gerald R. Ford's most pressing task was to help the country move beyond the Watergate scandal and restore faith in the government.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he understood that his most pressing task was to help the country move beyond the Watergate scandal. The Watergate scandal had caused a growing suspicion of government and a loss of trust among many Americans. Ford's declaration that "Our long national nightmare is over" was a sign that he wanted to move past this period of political corruption and restore faith in the government.