Historical Figure
Gerald Ford
1913–2006
President of the United States from 1974 to 1977
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Biography
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party, Ford assumed the presidency after the resignation of Richard Nixon, under whom he had served as the 40th vice president from 1973 to 1974 following the resignation of Spiro Agnew. Prior to that, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1973.
In Their Own Words (5)
An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history; conviction results from whatever offense or offenses two-thirds of the other body considers to be sufficiently serious to require removal of the accused from office.
Remarks in the U.S. House of Representatives in an effort to impeach Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (15 April 1970); recorded in the Congressional Record, vol. 116, p. 11913 and . , 1970
I believe in friendly compromise. I said over in the Senate hearings that truth is the glue that holds government together. Compromise is the oil that makes governments go.
During hearings before the US House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, on his nomination to be Vice-President (15 November 1973) , 1973
Honesty and truth-teller were synonymous with the name Jimmy Carter. Those traits were instilled in him by his loving parents Lillian and Earl Carter and the strength of his honesty was was reinforced by his upbringing in the rural South poised on the brink of social transformation. He displayed that honesty throughout his life as a naval officer, state legislator, governor, president, and world leader. For Jimmy Carter, honesty was was not a aspirational goal — it was part of his very soul.
Remarks from the eulogy he had written for Jimmy Carter, after requesting Carter to do a eulogy for him; eventually read by his son Steven Ford at Carter's funeral ceremonies (9 January 2025) · "Gerald Ford’s son reads former president’s eulogy to Jimmy Carter" PBS (9 January 2025) , 2025
I have a basic philosophy: When I meet somebody, even somebody who I've been warned is not a very nice person, my approach is there must be something nice in that person. And if you get to know the nice part of the individual, then you develop a relationship and a friendship that is invaluable. And I say with great emphasis: Everybody I've ever met, you can find something good about them. And I think that is a trait we ought to embellish and appreciate rather than discard.
A statement made in a video interview from here (1995) , 1995
History and experience tells us that moral progress cannot come in comfortable and in complacent times, but out of trial and out of confusion.
Quoted variant: History and experience tell us that moral progress comes not in comfortable and complacent times, but out of trial and confusion. , 1975
Timeline
The story of Gerald Ford, told in moments.
Born Leslie Lynch King Jr. in Omaha, Nebraska. His biological father is abusive. His mother flees and remarries Gerald Rudolph Ford, who adopts the boy. Young Jerry doesn't learn he was adopted until he is 17.
Stars as center and linebacker on the University of Michigan football team. They go undefeated in 1932 and 1933. He turns down offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers to attend Yale Law School, where he coaches football to pay tuition.
Confirmed as Vice President under the 25th Amendment after Spiro Agnew resigns. The first person to hold the office without being elected to it. He is sworn in 10 days after the Senate votes 92-3.
Nixon resigns. Ford takes the oath of office and tells the nation: "Our long national nightmare is over." He is the only person to serve as president without winning a national election.
Pardons Nixon for any crimes committed during his presidency. The backlash is ferocious. His approval rating drops from 71% to 50% overnight. He believes the pardon is necessary to move the country forward. It likely costs him the 1976 election.
Survives two assassination attempts in 17 days. On September 5, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme points a gun at him in Sacramento. On September 22, Sara Jane Moore fires and misses by five inches in San Francisco.
Dies at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, at 93. At the time of his death, he is the longest-lived American president.
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