THE VICE PRESIDENCY: The Veep Most Likely to Succeed?

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Riegle Jr., a political maverick from Flint, Mich., believes that they will be solid and fair on both counts. When Riegle was running for re-election in 1970 as a Republican supporter of Peace Candidate Pete McClosky, Ford braved the wrath of Nixon's White House to tell Republicans in Flint that Riegle's stance was within Republican bounds. Says Riegle, who has since become a Democrat: "The whole question of whether Jerry Ford can change from being a partisan battering ram to being a national conciliator can be answered only by his taking on the job. He has the kind of sensitivity that gives him a potential for growth. If I could trade Nixon for Ford, I would do it in an instant."

For the time being, Ford's instincts are to learn his new job and allow a nation that has been often and rudely jolted in recent months to get to know him.

He also realizes that he must hold the President to his word that Ford's appointment truly marks a "new beginning" in the Nixon Administration, not just a troop replacement. "What I have to watch out for is not to become Nixon's apologist," Ford says. "That wouldn't help either of us."