nixon's involvement in watergate brought disgrace and a forced resignation in 1974 and any long-term movement toward the gop was interrupted by the scandal. nixon's unelected vice president, gerald ford, succeeded him and gave him a full pardon, giving democrats a powerful issue they used to sweep the 1974 off-year elections. ford never fully recovered. in 1976, he barely defeated ronald reagan for the nomination. first lady betty ford was notable for her liberal positions on social issues and for her work on breast cancer awareness following her mastectomy in 1974. the taint of watergate and the nation's economic difficulties contributed to the election of democrat jimmy carter in 1976.