The NAACP's sixty-sixth annual convention was addressed by President Gerald R. Ford on July 1, 1975, in Washington, DC. President Ford praised the organization as it stood as the oldest civil rights group of America as it has been operating for already 65 years, and he talked about how it had a “distinguished” history. Since Ford asserted that he was the president of “all the people,” he assured that he would be able to establish good relations with the African American community. Ford was able to acknowledge and reach out to groups that Nixon had not been able to. Despite having many differences, Ford and Nixon also shared some similarities. Ford pursued ways to stop busing as the court decisions caused several communities to fall apart. However, what was perceived as a recession for the whites was a full depression for the blacks, and there was an immediate need to address economic issues.