What event cost ford much support early in his presidency?

The event that cost Ford much support early in his presidency was his pardon to Nixon.

Explanation:

During his presidency the Vietnam War ended and the Helsinki Accords were signed. In terms of domestic policy, Ford faced the worst economic outlook since the Great Depression of 1929: during his presidency the country went into recession and there was rising inflation. One of his most controversial decisions was to pardon the President Richard Nixon, involved in the so-called Watergate Scandal. In 1976 Ford would defeat Ronald Reagan in the Republican Party nomination, but he would lose by a small margin to Democrat Jimmy Carter in the presidential elections that year.

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