Gerald Rudolph Ford (1913 to 2006), was in the words of the BBC and others, an "undistinguished" President who , although he calmed America, was known for his pardoning of Richard Nixon. President Ford was unique in that he became Vice-President after a "dirty" resignation and President by a "dirty resignation" . President Ford (along with Bill Clinton), was also, unusually, a President who had a name change at an early age (Clinton was originally William Blythe and Ford was Lesley King). I believe both Presidents distinguished themseves in their own way.
Gerald Ford may have been "undistinguished" but he did bring a sense of sanity to an America scarred by Nixon and Vietnam. The kindly, dignified and Congress savvy Ford decided to shut the door on Watergate and, although his decision to pardon Nixon was unpopular at the time , he foresaw an America looking forward, not back. He closed off the Vietnam War just has he did the Nixon era and America gained from this (some pundits will disagree).
As a historian I report historically rather than politically, but I believe that Gerald Ford, for all his minimal faults, sent Americans to bed feeling a little better about themselves. I also believe that Ford was a far greater President than his successor, Jimmy Carter.
President Ford may have entered the White House by default but his legacy spelt calm and peace rather than disruption and war. We have to be thankful for that!