Ford Administration - Ford and Congress

Ford and Congress

As one of their own, Ford had many close personal ties and had established close-working relationships with members of Congress. He also understood the intricate way that Congress worked to get legislation passed and the need for a balance of power to be observed in the congressional relationship with the executive branch. Yet, despite his experience with the legislative processes, Ford was unable to develop a smooth-working relationship with Congress.

Ford's term as president began about halfway through the Ninety-third Congress where the political balance in the Senate was 56 Democrats and 46 Republicans and 242 Democrats and 192 Republicans in the House of Representatives. When the Ninety-fourth Congress opened on January 14, 1975, the Democratic majority had increased to 61 seats in the Senate and 291 seats in the House. With such a huge majority, Democratic members of Congress grew increasingly aware of...

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