How did gerald ford lose popularity in his first months in office?

Gerald Ford loses popularity in his first months in office By offering a pardon to Richard Nixon.
During that time, Richard Nixon was regarded as public enemy number one due to his involvement in Watergate scandal (when he ordered a break-in to the Democratic National Committee). Pardoning Nixon make American Citizen suspect that there are things that Nixon knew from the break-ins that could taint the democratic party.