Final answer:
Ford portrayed himself as a humble and consultative leader to voters, but his approval rating dropped when he pardoned ex-President Nixon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ford portrayed himself to voters as a humble and consultative leader. He acknowledged that he was appointed rather than elected and promised to lead by consulting others. Ford also made a joke about being a "Ford not a Lincoln," which was a humble remark and a reference to the reliable and no-frills line of automobiles he contrasted against luxury models. However, his approval rating dropped when he announced a full pardon for ex-President Nixon, leading many Americans to speculate that he was part of the Watergate cover-up.