Even Ford's former, reliably Republican House seat was won by a Democrat, Richard Vander Veen, who defeated Robert VanderLaan. In the Senate elections, the Democratic majority became 61 in the 100-seat body. One of Ford's greatest challenges was dealing with the continuing Vietnam War. In multiple letters to the South Vietnamese president, Nixon had promised that the United States would defend Thieu's government, should the North Vietnamese violate the accords.In December 1974, months after Ford took office, North Vietnamese forces invaded the province of Phuoc Long.