Gerald R. Ford (“Ford”) served as Vice President to President Richard M. Nixon (“Nixon”) during Nixon’s second term following the resignation of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew in 1973.
After Nixon’s resignation as President in August 1974, Gerald R. Ford became the 38th President of the United States serving as President for the remainder of Nixon’s term which ended in 1977. Ford has the distinction of being the first and only President in history to become President of the United States without running for office and without winning a presidential election.
Early Life
Born in Omaha, Nebraska on July 14th, 1913, Gerald R. Ford, was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. to parents, Leslie King Sr. and Dorothy. Escaping her husband’s physical abuse, Dorothy divorced and remarried Gerald Ford of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following his mother’s remarriage, Leslie Lynch King Jr.’s name was changed to Gerald R. Ford.
In college, Ford distinguished himself as an athlete on the University of Michigan football team. Ford attended Yale University Law School where he served as an assistant Football coach while obtaining his law degree.
During World War II, Ford served in the Navy achieving the rank as lieutenant commander. After serving, Ford returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan where practiced law and became involved in politics.
Early Career
In 1948, Ford was elected to Congress representing Michigan’s 5th Congressional district seat. Ford served for twenty-five years as a congressman. He was elected House Minority Leader in 1965, and served in House leadership until Nixon appointed him Vice President in 1973.
Presidency
On August 9, 1974, following the revelation of facts in the Watergate scandal, and anticipating his impeachment by Congress, President Nixon resigned his Presidency. Ford succeeded Nixon and became President of the United States by operation of the 25th Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Shortly after becoming President, Ford pardoned Nixon.
Ford’s brief Presidency focused on improving the economy by curbing inflation and creating an economic stimulus. Ford attempted to help business operate more freely by reducing taxes and easing controls exercised by regulatory agencies.
While Ford achieved some success with his economic policies and averted war in the middle east by brokering a truce between Israel and Egypt, it was not sufficient to overcome the public backlash of the Nixon Pardon. In 1976, Ford won the Republican party’s nomination for President, but he lost the general election.
Death
Gerald R. Ford passed away on December 26th, 2006, at the age of ninety-three. Among his many firsts, he remains the longest living president in American history as of the date of this writing.
