President generald ford biography

Like Presidents Carter, George H. Bushand Bill ClintonFord was an honorary co-chair of the Council for Excellence in Governmenta group dedicated to excellence in government performance, which provides leadership training to top federal employees. He also devoted much time to his love of golf, often playing both privately and in public events with comedian Bob Hopea longtime friend.

InFord established the Gerald R. In Aprilhe opened the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. Ford considered a run for the Republican nomination inforgoing numerous opportunities to serve on corporate boards to keep his options open for a rematch with Carter. Many have argued that Ford also wanted to exorcise his image as an "Accidental President" and to win a term in his own right.

Ford also believed the more conservative Ronald Reagan would be unable to defeat Carter and would hand the incumbent a second term. On March 15,Ford announced that he would forgo a run for the Republican nomination, vowing to support the eventual nominee. After securing the Republican nomination inRonald Reagan considered his former rival Ford as a potential vice-presidential running mate, but negotiations between the Reagan and Ford camps at the Republican National Convention were unsuccessful.

Ford conditioned his acceptance on Reagan's agreement to an unprecedented "co-presidency", [ ] giving Ford the power to control key executive branch appointments such as Kissinger as Secretary of State and Alan Greenspan as Treasury Secretary. After rejecting these terms, Reagan offered the vice-presidential nomination instead to George H.

Nixon had stayed in the background during this campaign. It would have been much more beneficial to Ronald Reagan. On October 3,Ford cast blame on Carter for the latter's charges of ineffectiveness on the part of the Federal Reserve Board due to his appointing of most of its members: "President Carter, when the going gets tough, will do anything to save his own political skin.

This latest action by the president is cowardly. Following the attempted assassination of Ronald ReaganFord told reporters while appearing at a fundraiser for Thomas Kean that criminals who use firearms should get the death penalty in the event someone is injured with the weapon. In SeptemberFord advised Reagan against succumbing to Wall Street demands and follow his own agenda for the economic policies of the US during an appearance on Good Morning America : "He shouldn't let the gurus of Wall Street decide what the economic future of this country is going to be.

They are wrong in my opinion.

President generald ford biography: Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in ,

On March 24,Ford offered an endorsement of President Reagan's economic policies while also stating the possibility of Reagan being met with a stalemate by Congress if not willing to compromise while in Washington. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate at Central Connecticut State University [ ] on March 23, During an August fundraising reception, Ford stated his opposition to a constitutional amendment requiring the US to have a balanced budget, citing a need to elect "members of the House and Senate who will immediately when Congress convenes act more responsibly in fiscal matters.

InFord's Humor and the Presidencya book of humorous political anecdotes, was published. In OctoberFord appeared in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with Bob Hope to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the birth of former president Dwight D. Eisenhowerwhere the two unveiled a plaque with the signatures of each living former president. House of Representativesalong with Carter and Reagan, in support of the assault weapons ban.

At the Republican National ConventionFord compared the election cycle to his loss to Carter and urged attention be paid to electing a Republican Congress: "If it's change you want on Nov. Congress, as every school child knows, has the power of the purse. For nearly 40 years, Democratic majorities have held to the time-tested New Deal formula, tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and elect.

In AprilFord joined President Bill Clintonformer president Bush, and Nancy Reagan in signing the "Summit Declaration of Commitment" in advocating for participation by private citizens in solving domestic issues within the United States. On January 20,during an interview at his Palm Springs home, Ford said the Republican Party's nominee in the presidential election would lose if the party turned ultra-conservative in their ideals: "If we get way over on the hard right of the political spectrum, we will not elect a Republican President.

I worry about the party going down this ultra-conservative line. We ought to learn from the Democrats: when they were running ultra-liberal candidates, they didn't win. In the prelude to the impeachment of President Clinton, Ford conferred with former president Carter and the two agreed to not speak publicly on the controversy, a pact broken by Carter when answering a question from a student at Emory University.

In OctoberFord broke with conservative members of the Republican Party by stating that gay and president generald ford biography couples "ought to be treated equally. Ford, dedicated to making sexual orientation a non-issue in the Republican Party". In a pre-recorded embargoed interview with Bob Woodward of The Washington Post in JulyFord stated that he disagreed "very strongly" with the Bush administration's choice of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction as justification for its decision to invade Iraqcalling it a "big mistake" unrelated to the national security of the United States and indicating that he would not have gone to war had he been president.

The details of the interview were not released until after Ford's death, as he requested. On April 4,Ford was admitted to Eisenhower Medical Center for surgery to replace his left knee, orthopedic surgeon Robert Murphy saying, "Ford's entire left knee was replaced with an artificial joint, including portions of the adjacent femur, or thigh bone, and tibia, or leg bone.

Ford suffered two minor strokes at the Republican National Conventionbut made a quick recovery after being admitted to Hahnemann University Hospital. Bush visited Ford at his president generald ford biography in Rancho Mirage for a little over an hour. This was Ford's last public appearance and produced the last known public photos, video footage, and voice recording.

While vacationing in Vail, ColoradoFord was hospitalized for two days in July for shortness of breath. On August 21, it was reported that he had been fitted with a pacemaker. On August 25, he underwent an angioplasty procedure at the Mayo Clinic. On August 28, Ford was released from the hospital and returned with his wife Betty to their California home.

On October 13, he was scheduled to attend the dedication of a building of his namesake, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, but due to poor health and on the advice of his doctors he did not attend. The previous day, Ford had entered the Eisenhower Medical Center for undisclosed tests; he was released on October Ford died on December 26,at his home in Rancho Mirage, Californiaof arteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease and diffuse arteriosclerosis.

He had end-stage coronary artery disease and severe aortic stenosis and insufficiency, caused by calcific alteration of one of his heart valves. Truman 's death; he was the last surviving member of the Warren Commission. On December 30,Ford became the 11th U. Scouting was so important to Ford that his family asked for Scouts to participate in his funeral.

A few selected Scouts served as ushers inside the National Cathedral. About Eagle Scouts were part of the funeral procession, where they formed an honor guard as the casket went by in front of the museum. One of the songs selected by Ford during the procession was the University of Michigan fight song, as it was a favorite of his that he preferred to be played during his presidency.

Ford Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was unveiled on May 3,in the Capitol Rotunda. Speaking of his stepfather and his mother, Ford said, "My stepfather was a magnificent person and my mother equally wonderful. So I couldn't have written a better prescription for a superb family upbringing. Ford had three younger half-siblings from the second marriage of his biological father, Leslie King Sr.

They never saw one another as children, and he did not know them at all until Ford was not aware of his biological father until he was 17, when his parents told him about the circumstances of his birth. That year, his biological father, whom Ford described as a "carefree, well-to-do man who didn't really give a damn about the hopes and dreams of his firstborn son", approached Ford while he was waiting tables in a Grand Rapids restaurant.

The two "maintained a sporadic contact" until Leslie King Sr. On October 15,Ford married Elizabeth Bloomer — at Grace Episcopal church in Grand Rapids; it was his first and only marriage, and her second one.

President generald ford biography: Gerald Ford was the 38th

Her previous marriage, to William Warren, lasted 5 years and ended in divorce. Bloomer, who was originally from Grand Rapids herself, had been living in New York City for several years, where she had been working as a John Robert Powers fashion model, and as a dancer in the auxiliary troupe of the Martha Graham Dance Company. At the time of their engagement, Ford was campaigning for what would be the first of his 13 terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

They delayed their wedding until shortly before the election because, as The New York Times reported in a profile of Betty Ford, "Jerry Ford was running for Congress and wasn't sure how voters might feel about his marrying a divorced exdancer. Ford was initiated into Freemasonry on September 30, But I had no idea that I president generald ford biography ever be added to the company of the Father of our Country and 12 other members of the order who also served as Presidents of the United States.

Ford was also a member of the Shriners and the Royal Order of Jesters ; both being affiliated bodies of Freemasonry. Ford is the only person to hold the presidential office without being elected as either president or vice president. The choice of Ford to fill the vacant vice-presidency was based on Ford's reputation for openness and honesty.

Ford to make a dishonest statement nor a statement part-true and part-false. He never attempted to shade a statement, and I never heard him utter an unkind word", said Martha Griffiths. According to the Gallup OrganizationFord took office with the fourth-highest approval rating for a president following their inauguration, but the trust the American public had in him was rapidly and severely tarnished by the pardon of Nixon and his ratings fell an unprecedented 21 points.

In spite of his athletic record and remarkable career accomplishments, Ford acquired a reputation as a clumsy, likable, and simple-minded everyman. Henry Kissinger described him as "as close to a normal human being as we'll ever get in that office". Ford has notably been portrayed in two television productions which included a central focus on his wife: the Emmy -winning ABC biographical television movie The Betty Ford Story[ ] and the Showtime television series The First Lady.

Contents move to sidebar hide. Naval Reserve. House of Representatives — Article Talk. Read View source View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. President of the United States from to This article is about the president of the United States. For other uses, see Gerald Ford disambiguation. None Aug—Dec Nelson Rockefeller — Betty Bloomer.

Michael Jack Steven Susan. Leslie Lynch King Sr. Dorothy Ayer Gardner Ford. Gerald Ford's voice. Ford's comments at his presidential swearing in ceremony recorded on August 9, Ford in Ford during practice as a center on the University of Michigan Wolverines football team, House Minority Leader — Vice presidency — See also: United States vice presidential confirmation.

Presidency — Main article: Presidency of Gerald Ford. For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Gerald Ford presidency. Main article: Inauguration of Gerald Ford. Main article: United States vice presidential confirmation. Main article: Pardon of Richard Nixon. Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Nixon Pardon.

Draft dodgers and deserters. Main article: swine flu outbreak. Equal rights and abortion. Further information: Gerald Ford judicial appointment controversies. Main article: Gerald Ford Supreme Court candidates. Other judicial appointments. Main article: List of federal judges appointed by Gerald Ford. Main articles: Gerald Ford presidential campaign and United States presidential election.

Post-presidency — Main article: Post-presidency of Gerald Ford. Main article: Death and state funeral of Gerald Ford. Civic and fraternal organizations. How We Got Here: The '70s. New York City: Basic Books. ISBN American Presidents, and the Middle East. Duke University Press. February 16, Archived from the original on April 4, Retrieved December 2, Archived from the original on March 1, Archived PDF from the original on February 20, Gallup, Inc.

December 29, Archived from the original on May 21, Retrieved January 5, CBS News. December 27, Archived from the original on January 6, The Fathers of American Presidents. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 29, Retrieved September 2, — via Fox News. Character Above All. Public Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on January 26, Retrieved December 28, Ford Genealogical Information".

Gerald R. University of Texas. Archived from the original on September 24, March 20, Archived from the original on December 22, Retrieved December 21, New York: St. Martin's Press. Archived from the original on June 5, Retrieved December 29, Ford Presidential Library. December 30, Archived PDF from the original on September 15, Retrieved November 18, Ford "Healing the Nation".

New York: Riverhead Books. Archived from the original on February 3, National Public Radio. Archived from the original on January 22, Retrieved April 26, Huntsville, Alabama: The Strode Publishers. The Detroit News. Archived from the original on March 26, Retrieved October 22, The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford American Presidency Series. University Press of Kansas.

University of Michigan Athletics. Archived from the original on June 30, Retrieved June 30, Los Angeles Times. December 28, Archived from the original on May 23, Retrieved September 2, October 15, The Press and the Ford Presidency. University of Michigan Press. Archived from the original on December 24, Vice Presidents of the United States — United States Government Printing Office.

The University of Michigan. Archived from the original on March 8, Retrieved January 2, January 17, Archived from the original on April 20, Retrieved April 20, Hoover Institution Press. Archived from the original on April 15, The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 20, Retrieved October 19, Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived PDF from the original on April 5, Retrieved March 28, Burd Street Press.

Naval Historical Foundation. February 7, Archived from the original on November 6, Retrieved February 8, Twenty-First Century Books. Retrieved September 3, The Grand Rapids Press. Archived from the original on December 20, Archived from the original on December 25, Retrieved October 25, — via National Archives. Congressional Record. Government Printing Office : Archived PDF from the original on October 8, Retrieved February 27, Government Printing Office : — Archived from the original on August 21, Retrieved August 21, Archived PDF from the "president generald ford biography" on March 17, Archived PDF from the original on January 21, Archived PDF from the original on February 28, Archived PDF from the original on December 4, Archived PDF from the original on March 6, Ford Presidential Library and Museum".

Archived from the original on July 24, Retrieved August 9, Miller Center of Public Affairs. Archived from the original on September 25, Retrieved August 20, Penguin Group. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 1, Retrieved September 8, USA Today. August 9, The FlatSigned Press. Masters of the House: Congressional leadership over two centuries.

Westview Press. Known and unknown : a memoir. New York: Sentinel. OCLC Archived from the original on January 8, Retrieved September 16, Ford, May 23, ". United States Senate. A year later, he graduated from Yale Law School in the top third of his class, and then returned home to Grand Rapids to work in a law firm, putting his toe in the water of local politics.

Navy in A former model and dancer with Martha Graham's company in New York City, the recent divorcee had recently returned home to Grand Rapids and was employed as department store fashion coordinator, while also teaching dance to handicapped children. Less than a year later, Ford decided to run for Congress to represent his Michigan district District 5.

He and Betty were married in Octobera few weeks before his sweeping victory, which would sweep both newlyweds away to Washington, D. Declining a suggestion to run for the Senate inFord's long career as a congressman encompassed work on foreign policy, the military, spending, the space program and the Warren Commission. Although he served as House minority leader, Ford's ambition to be speaker of the House seemed out of reach and, thusly, the congressman was contemplating retirement following his 13th term in the House concluded in The changing political atmosphere of the '70s would dictate otherwise, however.

President generald ford biography: Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr was

On October 10,Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned under allegations of income tax evasion and bribery. Two days later, President Richard Nixon nominated Gerald Ford to take his place, under the provisions of the Constitution's 25th Amendment, and in two months, Ford was sworn in as the country's 40th vice president. Over the ensuing months, investigations into Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal sped up, culminating with Nixon's resignation on August 8, One day later, on August 9,Ford was sworn in as the 38th president of the United States.

By his re-election bid was even contested by future president Ronald Reagan. Ford would make it out of the Republican primary, but lose to Jimmy Carter in the general election.

President generald ford biography: Gerald Rudolph Ford, the 38th

After his time in office, Ford went on to enjoy retirement from public serve. Still known for his athletic past, Ford became an avid golfer. He would also make a good living as a speaker, writer and serve on corporate boards. His birth name was Leslie King, Jr. He married Betty Ford in Ford died in his home in California from cerebrovascular disease and arteriosclerosis at the age of 93 years and days.

Until then, no other president had lived to be that old since Ronald Reagan in George H. Bush became the oldest living former president in November Contents move to sidebar hide. Page Talk. Read Change Change source View history. Tools Tools. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Gerald Ford. Betty Ford. Michael Jack Steven Susan.

Leslie Lynch King Sr. Dorothy Ayer Gardner Ford. Gerald Ford's voice. Gerald Ford's comments at his presidential swearing in ceremony recorded on August 9, Early life [ change change source ]. Scouting and athletics [ change change source ]. Political career [ change change source ]. Presidency, —77 [ change change source ]. Legacy [ change change source ].

Personal life [ change change source ]. Death [ change change source ]. References [ change change source ]. The New York Times Almanac ISBN How We Got Here: The '70s. New York City: Basic Books. American Presidents, and the Middle East. Duke University Press. February 16, Retrieved December 2, The Fathers of American Presidents. Fox News.

Associated Press. Retrieved December 31, Character Above All. Public Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on January 26, Ford Genealogical Information". Gerald R.