THE VICE PRESIDENCY: The Veep Most Likely to Succeed?

As usual, Jerry Ford bounced into the' day at 6 a.m., rising after only 5Y2 hours of sleep. He skimmed the Washington Post—"I turn to the sports pages first" —and then he spent 20 minutes speed-reading a copy of the detailed daily news digest that is prepared for President Nixon. By 8 a.m., along with other House chieftains, Minority Leader Ford was at the State Department for a 90-minute breakfast briefing by Secretary Henry Kissinger, whom Ford deeply respects. Then he settled down to spend a large part of this momentous day with wife Betty and their four children, who were home for much more than the holidays. They were soon to become the nation's second family. Gerald Rudolph Ford, 60, was getting ready to be sworn in as the 40th Vice President of the U.S.

For the nation, Ford's investiture meant more than simply having a Veep once again. In the light of Richard Nixon's traumatized presidency, Ford would become a distinctly thinkable successor. This in turn rendered the prospect of resignation or impeachment less frightening to many people.

From far and near, mostly from his home state of Michigan, came 25 relatives—stepbrothers, in-laws, nephews and nieces. They gathered for a private luncheon in a House dining room, together with some longtime neighbors of the Fords' and Mrs. Clara Powell, the family's maid for 20 years, now retired.

Ford ran out of tickets for the late afternoon inaugural ceremonies and had to appeal to House Doorkeeper William M. ("Fishbait") Miller for extras. Betty Ford consulted Son Michael, 23, a student at Massachusetts' Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, about the Jerusalem Bible that he had bought especially for the inaugural. Where should it be opened when she held it during the swearing-in? They agreed on the 20th Psalm ("May Yahweh [God] answer you in time of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob 'protect you' "). Said Mrs. Ford: "I hope my hand doesn't shake."

Plain Man. In an interview with TIME Correspondent Neil MacNeil before the ceremony, the Vice President-designate previewed the speech that he would deliver a few hours later. As he rehearsed his farewell to the House that has been his home for 25 years ("May God bless the House of Representatives"), tears began welling in Ford's eyes, and during the tribute to his wife and children the words came haltingly, only two or three at a time. "Ford is an emotional man," reports MacNeil. "He is a plain man who loves his family, loves his friends, loves the House. Reading the words he knew he would speak to the Congress and the country, in the singular role he knew he now was in, Ford was simply overcome."

Ford regained his composure and wore a triumphant grin by the time he entered the House chamber, which was jammed with the biggest crowd hi the memory of seasoned Congress watchers. He was accompanied by Richard Nixon, who entered smiling but later appeared tense. As the two reached the podium, Ford stepped forward alone to acknowledge the applause, and suddenly it grew into a cheering ovation. This was clearly Ford's day.