"WIN": How Gerald Ford tried to whip inflation with a button

When he was thrust into the presidency in 1974, Gerald Ford's plain-spoken optimism was seen by many Americans as his greatest virtue. "There's great public support for Ford when he first becomes president; he's such a contrast to Nixon," said Mirelle Luecke, curator of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. "He's seen as this very honest, down-to-Earth, well-meaning president."

That honeymoon wouldn't last. Public anger over Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon was made worse by a rapidly-deteriorating economy. "When he becomes president, inflation is at 10%, it would later cap at 12%," said Luecke.

Rocca said, "And we can we just say right now inflation is bad, but 12%? That's crazy!"