Section 2 of the 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, establishes procedures for filling vice presidential vacancies. When the office becomes vacant through succession to the presidency, death, resignation, or removal, the President nominates a replacement who takes office upon confirmation by majority votes in both the House of Representatives and Senate. This provision has been invoked twice in American history. On October 10, 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned following a tax controversy. President Richard Nixon nominated House Minority Leader Gerald Ford on October 12. After hearings in the Senate Rules Committee and House Judiciary Committee, both chambers confirmed Ford, who took office December 6, 1973. On August 9, 1974, Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal. Ford became President under Section 1, creating another vice presidential vacancy. Ford nominated former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller on August 20, 1974. After congressional hearings and confirmation votes, Rockefeller took office December 19, 1974. This made Ford the only president never elected to either the presidency or vice presidency. Before the 25th Amendment, vice presidential vacancies remained unfilled until the next election, leaving the office empty 18 times for a total of 38 years.