United States Vice-President Gerald Ford, in one of his first statements after taking office, declared he was convinced that President Nixon had no intention of resigning.

Less than 24 hours after being sworn in as Vice-President, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Spiro Agnew, Mr. Ford held a news conference in Washington yesterday (Friday, December 7).

Newsman asked if he had been assured by the President that there would be no further shock disclosures in the Watergate affair. On the contrary, said Mr. Ford, President Nixon had given assurances that he would be completely exonerated when the full facts about Watergate were known.

This was how he answered the question of whether the President would resign: