What you don't know about Gerald Ford might scare you

Yes, yes, we all know the Gerald Ford who was president, and who did a guest spot on the Simpsons when he moved across the street from America's favorite animated family. But did you know that Gerald Ford is the only president that made it to the office without getting elected?

Here's what happened. Spiro Agnew was Richard Nixon's Vice President. Agnew resigned when he became the first (and only) Vice President to step down because of criminal charges pending against him (something about accepting bribes, committing extortion, etc.). To boot, he was disbarred in the State of Maryland, and, despite being a governor there, had his picture removed from the state's portrait room for about two decades.

This left Nixon without a Vice President. The 25th amendment was invoked, and the House minority whip, our friend Gerald, was appointed as the nation's VP.

Then Nixon resigned because well, it turns out he was a crook, though he really did do some cool things while he was in office (went to China, ended Vietnam, abolished gold standard).

This left Gerald Ford as president, and the only one so far who made it to the office without ever being elected.