Key Dates

Gerald was born in Omaha, Nebraska on July 14, 1913.

Gerald R. Ford Jr. was the only President born in Nebraska. He was also the only President that was a resident of Michigan.

He was named Leslie Lynch King, Jr. at birth. When his divorced mother remarried, he was adopted by his stepfather and named Gerald R. Ford after him. He was known as "Jerry." President Ford didn't know he was adopted until he was 12 years old.

He married Elizabeth (Betty) Anne Bloomer on October 15, 1948

Gerald Ford was the first President whose parents were divorced.

Ford was the first President to have been an Eagle Scout.

Gerald R. Ford once worked as a fashion model. Ford was a model for Cosmopolitan and Look magazines in the 1940's.

He served in WW II and was a decorated Naval officer.

He is right-handed, but he writes with his left hand.

He always signed his name Jerry Ford.

Ford smoked a pipe.

The president enjoyed butter pecan ice cream.

Ford was 6' tall and weighed about 195.

Ford was the only President who was employed by the National Park Service. He worked as a park ranger in Yellowstone in 1936.

He won his first election to the House of Representatives by getting 60% of the vote. That was his smallest margin of victory in his career as a Representative.

Ford was one of the members of the Warren Commission appointed to study the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was the last living member of the Commission.

Gerald Ford was Vice President to Richard Nixon. The vote to confirm his vice president was 92-3 in the Senate and 387-35 in the house.

Gerald Ford became President with the resignation of Richard Nixon. He was one of 9 vice presidents to become president. He was the only vice president who didn't become president due to a president's death.

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Gerald R. Ford was the only president not elected by the people as either vice president or president. Therefore, he is the only President to not run for the Presidency or Vice Presidency and become President. As one book states he was the first un-elected President. He was the Speaker of the House and replace Vice President Agnew when he resigned and then replace Richard Nixon when he resigned.

He was the center on the University of Michigan Football Team. He also played linebacker. Ford was the MVP of the Michigan team. He was MVP on a team with a record of 1 and 7. He then played on two national champion Michigan teams, but not as a starter. He was offered contracts to play football for the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.

President Ford was the first president to visit Japan while in office.

President Ford hired a joke writer.

In 1975, Gerald Ford officially reinstated Robert E. Lee as a U. S. citizen. (Lee was the top ranking Confederate General in the Civil War.)

Gerald Ford also loved golf, but spectators had to watch carefully because the President was know for conking people on the head with his wild shots. However, he did have a hole-in-one to his credit. (He was the second president to do that. Eisenhower also had a hole-in-one.

President Ford said he wanted to "replace a national frown with a national smile.

President Ford also enjoyed skiing.

He was an Episcopalian.

Ford was in the military during WWII and served a gunnery on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific.

He served in the House of Representatives for 25 years. When he was in congress, he kept a Polaroid camera on a tripod so hometown visitors could have their picture take with him.

In 1975, two attempts were made to assassinate President Ford. One on September 5 by Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme. She was a follower of Charles Manson. The second was on September 22, by Sara Jane Moore. President Ford was not hurt in either attempt. (For more information see our page on the attempts to assassinate President Ford.)

Shortly after becoming president he gave a full pardon to Richard Nixon (Sept. 8,1974). Some people say that this lead to his defeat to Jimmy Carter in the next presidential election (1976). He is the only president to grant a pardon to another president.

Gerald Ford's Vice President was Nelson Rockefeller (1974-1977).

On September 5, 1975, "Sqeaky" Fromme tried to assassinate President Ford. She had a loaded gun but there was a bullet in the firing chamber. She pointed the gun at Gerald Ford. The Secret Service restrained her.

Gerald Ford had Golden Retriever named Liberty.

The 1976 Presidential election was the only election he ever lost.

President Ford was in office for 895 days. Only two Vice Presidents served less day. (Lyndon Johnson - 425 and Calvin Coolidge -580) It was the 5th shortest term served by any president.

Gerald R. Ford owns a home for skiing in Beaver Creek, CO.

The Fords became millionaires after he left office. He published several books, spoke at corporate functions and had a NBC contract.

Ford was passed Ronald Reagan on November 12, 2007 as the oldest person ever to be president Ford became 93 years and 121 days old. (Oldest living and deceased Presidents.)

President Ford died on December 26, 2006. He was 93 years old. Reagan was also 93 when he died.

He lied repose in California, then Washington DC and was buried next to the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, MI.

Quotes from Gerald Ford:

On being president: "I guess it proves that in America anyone can be President."