Gerald Ford has served as Vice President and President of the United States without being elected to either position. Under terms of the Twenty-five amendment, President Nixon nominated Ford for Vice President after the resignation of Spiro Agnew on October 10, 1973. He was appointed to that position by the United States Congress on December 6, 1973. Nine months later, President Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency due to the Watergate scandal. Ford immediately assumed the presidency, becoming the United States’ 38th president. His presidency lasted 895 days, losing the next election to Jimmy Carter. His presidency is the shortest on record for anyone who did not die in office.