December 27, 2006—Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States, was "acutely aware" that he had not been elected when he stepped into office in 1974 following the resignation of disgraced president Richard Nixon.

Ford took office by chance, becoming commander-in-chief a mere eight months after replacing Spiro Agnew as vice president. In the two years he occupied the White House, Ford led one of the most unusual presidencies in U.S. history.

Now, as the nation mourns Ford's death yesterday at the age of 93, learn more about his "accidental" presidency, from his stumbling reputation to multiple assassination attempts and the official pardon that likely cost him the 1976 election.