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Gerald Ford: Difference between revisions
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During his first campaign in 1948, Ford visited voters at their doorsteps and as they left the factories where they worked.<ref name="Winget">{{cite book|author=Winget, Mary Mueller|title=Gerald R. Ford|year=2007|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzL6X3Dv_SYC|access-date=September 3, 2009|isbn=978-0-8225-1509-8|archive-date=September 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924195009/https://books.google.com/books?id=pzL6X3Dv_SYC|url-status=live}}</ref> Ford also visited local farms where, in one instance, a wager resulted in Ford spending two weeks milking cows following his election victory.<ref>{{cite news|first=Melissa |last=Kruse |url=http://victorianrevivalbirdhouses.com/barnhistory.html |title=The Patterson Barn, Grand Rapids, Michigan—Barn razing erases vintage landmark |work=The Grand Rapids Press |date=January 3, 2003 |page=D1 |access-date=September 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429035846/http://victorianrevivalbirdhouses.com/barnhistory.html |archive-date=April 29, 2011 }}</ref> | During his first campaign in 1948, Ford visited voters at their doorsteps and as they left the factories where they worked.<ref name="Winget">{{cite book|author=Winget, Mary Mueller|title=Gerald R. Ford|year=2007|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzL6X3Dv_SYC|access-date=September 3, 2009|isbn=978-0-8225-1509-8|archive-date=September 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924195009/https://books.google.com/books?id=pzL6X3Dv_SYC|url-status=live}}</ref> Ford also visited local farms where, in one instance, a wager resulted in Ford spending two weeks milking cows following his election victory.<ref>{{cite news|first=Melissa |last=Kruse |url=http://victorianrevivalbirdhouses.com/barnhistory.html |title=The Patterson Barn, Grand Rapids, Michigan—Barn razing erases vintage landmark |work=The Grand Rapids Press |date=January 3, 2003 |page=D1 |access-date=September 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429035846/http://victorianrevivalbirdhouses.com/barnhistory.html |archive-date=April 29, 2011 }}</ref> | ||
Ford was a member of the House of Representatives for 25 years, holding [[Michigan's 5th congressional district]] seat from 1949 to 1973. It was a tenure largely notable for its modesty. As an editorial in '' | Ford was a member of the House of Representatives for 25 years, holding [[Michigan's 5th congressional district]] seat from 1949 to 1973. It was a tenure largely notable for its modesty. As an editorial in ''The New York Times'' described him, Ford "saw himself as a negotiator and a reconciler, and the record shows it: he did not write a single piece of major legislation in his entire career."<ref name="nyt-editorial">{{cite news |date=December 28, 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/28/opinion/28thur1.html |title=Gerald R. Ford |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 29, 2006 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220050832/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/28/opinion/28thur1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Appointed to the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]] two years after being elected, he was a prominent member of the [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Defense Appropriations Subcommittee]]. Ford described his philosophy as "a moderate in domestic affairs, an internationalist in foreign affairs, and a conservative in fiscal policy."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/about/presidents/geraldford/|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=Gerald R. Ford|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|access-date=October 25, 2009|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225140536/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/about/presidents/geraldford/%20|url-status=live}}</ref> He voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|Civil Rights Acts of 1957]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=House – June 18, 1957|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=103|issue=7|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=9518|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt7/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt7-8-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008164237/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt7/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt7-8-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=House – August 27, 1957|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=103|issue=12|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|pages=16112–16113|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt12/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt12-4-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008164310/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt12/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt12-4-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1960|1960]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=House – March 24, 1960|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=106|issue=5|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=6512|url=https://www.congress.gov/bound-congressional-record/1960/03/24/house-section|access-date=August 21, 2023|archive-date=August 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821123414/https://www.congress.gov/bound-congressional-record/1960/03/24/house-section|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=House – April 21, 1960|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=106|issue=7|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|pages=8507–8508|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1960-pt7/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1960-pt7-2-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=March 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317215938/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1960-pt7/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1960-pt7-2-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=House – February 10, 1964|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=110|issue=2|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|pages=2804–2805|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt2/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt2-10-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=March 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317215522/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt2/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt2-10-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=House – July 2, 1964|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=110|issue=12|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=15897|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt12/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt12-4-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=March 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317215801/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt12/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1964-pt12-4-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Civil Rights Act of 1968|1968]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=House – August 16, 1967|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=113|issue=17|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=22778|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1967-pt17/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1967-pt17-5-1.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121202124/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1967-pt17/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1967-pt17-5-1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=House – April 10, 1968|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=114|issue=8|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=9621|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt8/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt8-1-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228022757/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt8/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt8-1-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the [[Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution]] and the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=House – August 27, 1962|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=108|issue=13|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=17670|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1962-pt13/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1962-pt13-7-1.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=March 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317215704/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1962-pt13/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1962-pt13-7-1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=House – July 9, 1965|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=111|issue=12|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|pages=16285–16286|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt12/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt12-3-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204070445/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt12/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt12-3-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=House – August 3, 1965|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=111|issue=14|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=19201|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt14/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt14-5-2.pdf|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=March 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306104521/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt14/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1965-pt14-5-2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Ford was known to his colleagues in the House as a "Congressman's Congressman".<ref>''[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.+Res.+409: Celebrating the life of President Gerald R. Ford on what would have been his 96th birthday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415012225/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.+Res.+409: |date=April 15, 2016 }},'' H.R. 409, [[111th United States Congress|111th Congress]], 1st Session (2009).</ref> | ||
In the early 1950s, Ford declined offers to run for either the Senate or the Michigan governorship. Rather, his ambition was to become [[United States Speaker of the House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ford.utexas.edu/grf/fordbiop.asp |title=Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum |publisher=Ford.utexas.edu |access-date=August 9, 2009 |archive-date=July 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724191456/http://www.ford.utexas.edu/grf/fordbiop.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> which he called "the ultimate achievement. To sit up there and be the head honcho of 434 other people and have the responsibility, aside from the achievement, of trying to run the greatest legislative body in the history of mankind ... I think I got that ambition within a year or two after I was in the House of Representatives".{{r|deathofford}} | In the early 1950s, Ford declined offers to run for either the Senate or the Michigan governorship. Rather, his ambition was to become [[United States Speaker of the House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ford.utexas.edu/grf/fordbiop.asp |title=Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum |publisher=Ford.utexas.edu |access-date=August 9, 2009 |archive-date=July 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724191456/http://www.ford.utexas.edu/grf/fordbiop.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> which he called "the ultimate achievement. To sit up there and be the head honcho of 434 other people and have the responsibility, aside from the achievement, of trying to run the greatest legislative body in the history of mankind ... I think I got that ambition within a year or two after I was in the House of Representatives".{{r|deathofford}} | ||
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[[File:Mr. and Mrs. Ford and Nixon 13 Oct 1973.jpg|thumb|alt=Two women are flanked by two men in suits, standing in a room of the White House.|Gerald and Betty Ford with the President and First Lady [[Pat Nixon]] after President Nixon nominated Ford to be vice president, October 13, 1973]] | [[File:Mr. and Mrs. Ford and Nixon 13 Oct 1973.jpg|thumb|alt=Two women are flanked by two men in suits, standing in a room of the White House.|Gerald and Betty Ford with the President and First Lady [[Pat Nixon]] after President Nixon nominated Ford to be vice president, October 13, 1973]] | ||
For the past decade, Ford had been unsuccessfully working to help Republicans across the country get a majority in the chamber so that he could become [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]]. He promised his wife that he would try again in 1974 then retire in 1976.{{r|deathofford}} However, on October 10, 1973, [[Spiro Agnew]] resigned from the vice presidency.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Naughton |first1=James M. |title=Judge Orders Fine, 3 Years' Probation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/11/archives/judge-orders-fine-3-years-probation-tells-court-income-was-taxable.html |access-date=August 28, 2020 |work= | For the past decade, Ford had been unsuccessfully working to help Republicans across the country get a majority in the chamber so that he could become [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]]. He promised his wife that he would try again in 1974 then retire in 1976.{{r|deathofford}} However, on October 10, 1973, [[Spiro Agnew]] resigned from the vice presidency.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Naughton |first1=James M. |title=Judge Orders Fine, 3 Years' Probation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/11/archives/judge-orders-fine-3-years-probation-tells-court-income-was-taxable.html |access-date=August 28, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=October 11, 1973 |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211044906/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/11/archives/judge-orders-fine-3-years-probation-tells-court-income-was-taxable.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''The New York Times'', Nixon "sought advice from senior Congressional leaders about a replacement." The advice was unanimous. House Speaker [[Carl Albert]] recalled later, "We gave Nixon no choice but Ford."<ref name="nyt-editorial" /> Ford agreed to the nomination, telling his wife that the vice presidency would be "a nice conclusion" to his career.{{r|deathofford}} Ford was nominated to take Agnew's position on October 12, the first time the vice-presidential vacancy provision of the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|25th Amendment]] had been implemented. The [[United States Senate]] voted 92 to 3 to confirm Ford on November 27. On December 6, the House confirmed Ford by a vote of 387 to 35. [[1973 United States vice presidential confirmation|After the confirmation vote]] in the House, Ford took the oath of office as vice president.<ref name="librarybio"/> | ||
Ford became vice president as the [[Watergate scandal]] was unfolding. On August 1, 1974, [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]] [[Alexander Haig]] contacted Ford to tell him to prepare for the presidency.<ref name="librarybio"/> At the time, Ford and his wife, Betty, were living in suburban Virginia, waiting for their expected move into the newly designated [[Number One Observatory Circle|vice president's residence]] in Washington, D.C. However, "Al Haig asked to come over and see me", Ford later said, "to tell me that there would be a new tape released on a Monday, and he said the evidence in there was devastating and there would probably be either an impeachment or a resignation. And he said, 'I'm just warning you that you've got to be prepared, that things might change dramatically and you could become President.' And I said, 'Betty, I don't think we're ever going to live in the vice president's house.{{'"}}<ref name="kunhardt" /> | Ford became vice president as the [[Watergate scandal]] was unfolding. On August 1, 1974, [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]] [[Alexander Haig]] contacted Ford to tell him to prepare for the presidency.<ref name="librarybio"/> At the time, Ford and his wife, Betty, were living in suburban Virginia, waiting for their expected move into the newly designated [[Number One Observatory Circle|vice president's residence]] in Washington, D.C. However, "Al Haig asked to come over and see me", Ford later said, "to tell me that there would be a new tape released on a Monday, and he said the evidence in there was devastating and there would probably be either an impeachment or a resignation. And he said, 'I'm just warning you that you've got to be prepared, that things might change dramatically and you could become President.' And I said, 'Betty, I don't think we're ever going to live in the vice president's house.{{'"}}<ref name="kunhardt" /> | ||
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[[File:Presford90.jpg|thumb|alt=Two men in suits are flanked by two women in formal dresses, standing beside a large birthday cake with lit candles and flowers. The cake is decorated with the text "Happy 90th Birthday President Ford".|Ford at his 90th birthday with [[Laura Bush]], President [[George W. Bush]], and Betty Ford in the White House [[State Dining Room]] in 2003]] | [[File:Presford90.jpg|thumb|alt=Two men in suits are flanked by two women in formal dresses, standing beside a large birthday cake with lit candles and flowers. The cake is decorated with the text "Happy 90th Birthday President Ford".|Ford at his 90th birthday with [[Laura Bush]], President [[George W. Bush]], and Betty Ford in the White House [[State Dining Room]] in 2003]] | ||
In April 1997, Ford joined President [[Bill Clinton]], former 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/us/presidents-call-for-big-citizenship-not-big-government.html|title=Presidents Call for Big Citizenship, Not Big Government|first=James|last=Bennet|date=April 29, 1997|work= | In April 1997, Ford joined President [[Bill Clinton]], former 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/us/presidents-call-for-big-citizenship-not-big-government.html|title=Presidents Call for Big Citizenship, Not Big Government|first=James|last=Bennet|date=April 29, 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428023332/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/us/presidents-call-for-big-citizenship-not-big-government.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
On January 20, 1998, during an interview at his Palm Springs home, Ford said the Republican Party's nominee in the 2000 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/20/us/ford-urges-gop-to-drop-abortion-issue-and-shift-center.html|title=Ford Urges G.O.P. to Drop Abortion Issue and Shift Center|first=Richard L.|last=Berke|work= | On January 20, 1998, during an interview at his Palm Springs home, Ford said the Republican Party's nominee in the 2000 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/20/us/ford-urges-gop-to-drop-abortion-issue-and-shift-center.html|title=Ford Urges G.O.P. to Drop Abortion Issue and Shift Center|first=Richard L.|last=Berke|work=The New York Times|date=January 20, 1998|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-date=January 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120225504/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/20/us/ford-urges-gop-to-drop-abortion-issue-and-shift-center.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/erarchive/1998/September/erseptember.28/9_28_98Carter.html|title=Carter breaks silence on Clinton, says nation will heal|date=September 28, 1998|publisher=Emory|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=October 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015120516/http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/erarchive/1998/September/erseptember.28/9_28_98Carter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | 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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/erarchive/1998/September/erseptember.28/9_28_98Carter.html|title=Carter breaks silence on Clinton, says nation will heal|date=September 28, 1998|publisher=Emory|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=October 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015120516/http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/erarchive/1998/September/erseptember.28/9_28_98Carter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
In October 2001, Ford broke with conservative members of the Republican Party by stating that gay and lesbian couples "ought to be treated equally. Period." He became the highest-ranking Republican to embrace full equality for gays and lesbians, stating his belief that there should be a federal amendment outlawing anti-gay job discrimination and expressing his hope that the Republican Party would reach out to gay and lesbian voters.<ref>Price, Deb. [http://pageoneq.com/news/2006/ford122806.html "Gerald Ford: Treat gay couples equally"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120021813/http://pageoneq.com/news/2006/ford122806.html |date=January 20, 2013 }}. ''The Detroit News'', October 29, 2001. Retrieved December 28, 2006</ref> He also was a member of the Republican Unity Coalition, which '' | In October 2001, Ford broke with conservative members of the Republican Party by stating that gay and lesbian couples "ought to be treated equally. Period." He became the highest-ranking Republican to embrace full equality for gays and lesbians, stating his belief that there should be a federal amendment outlawing anti-gay job discrimination and expressing his hope that the Republican Party would reach out to gay and lesbian voters.<ref>Price, Deb. [http://pageoneq.com/news/2006/ford122806.html "Gerald Ford: Treat gay couples equally"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120021813/http://pageoneq.com/news/2006/ford122806.html |date=January 20, 2013 }}. ''The Detroit News'', October 29, 2001. Retrieved December 28, 2006</ref> He also was a member of the Republican Unity Coalition, which ''The New York Times'' described as "a group of prominent Republicans, including former President Gerald R. Ford, dedicated to making sexual orientation a non-issue in the Republican Party".<ref>Stolberg, Sheryl Gay. "Vocal Gay Republicans Upsetting Conservatives", ''The New York Times'', June 1, 2003, p. N26.</ref> | ||
On November 22, 2004, New York Republican governor [[George Pataki]] named Ford and the other living former presidents (Carter, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton) as honorary members of the board rebuilding the [[World Trade Center site|World Trade Center]]. | On November 22, 2004, New York Republican governor [[George Pataki]] named Ford and the other living former presidents (Carter, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton) as honorary members of the board rebuilding the [[World Trade Center site|World Trade Center]]. | ||
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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.<ref>{{Cite news|url= | 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url= | ||
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/29/washington/29funeral.html|title=Ford Arranged His Funeral to Reflect Himself and Drew in a Former Adversary|last=Kornblut|first=Anne E.|date=December 29, 2006|work= | https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/29/washington/29funeral.html|title=Ford Arranged His Funeral to Reflect Himself and Drew in a Former Adversary|last=Kornblut|first=Anne E.|date=December 29, 2006|work=The New York Times|location=New York|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref> After his death in December 2006, the [[University of Michigan Marching Band]] played the school's fight song for him one final time, for his last ride from the [[Gerald R. Ford Airport]] in Grand Rapids, Michigan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eIEVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5206,309767|title=Funeral: Marching Band Plays in His Honor|date=January 3, 2007|work=Eugene Register-Guard|access-date=September 2, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | ||
The State of Michigan commissioned and submitted a [[Statue of Gerald Ford|statue of Ford]] to the [[National Statuary Hall Collection]], replacing [[Zachariah Chandler]]. It was unveiled on May 3, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda. | The State of Michigan commissioned and submitted a [[Statue of Gerald Ford|statue of Ford]] to the [[National Statuary Hall Collection]], replacing [[Zachariah Chandler]]. It was unveiled on May 3, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda. | ||
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On October 15, 1948, Ford married [[Elizabeth Bloomer]] (1918–2011) at Grace [[Episcopal Church in an United States of America|Episcopal church]] in Grand Rapids; it was his first and only marriage, and her second one. (Her previous marriage, to William Warren, lasted 5 years and ended in divorce.)<ref name=NYT1974Howard>{{cite news|first=Jane|last=Howard|author-link=Jane Howard (journalist)|title=The 38th First Lady: Not a Robot At All|work=The New York Times|date=December 8, 1974|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/08/archives/forward-day-by-day-the-38th-first-lady-not-a-robot-at-all-betty.html|via=The TimesMachine archive viewer|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-date=June 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607005442/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/08/archives/forward-day-by-day-the-38th-first-lady-not-a-robot-at-all-betty.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | On October 15, 1948, Ford married [[Elizabeth Bloomer]] (1918–2011) at Grace [[Episcopal Church in an United States of America|Episcopal church]] in Grand Rapids; it was his first and only marriage, and her second one. (Her previous marriage, to William Warren, lasted 5 years and ended in divorce.)<ref name=NYT1974Howard>{{cite news|first=Jane|last=Howard|author-link=Jane Howard (journalist)|title=The 38th First Lady: Not a Robot At All|work=The New York Times|date=December 8, 1974|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/08/archives/forward-day-by-day-the-38th-first-lady-not-a-robot-at-all-betty.html|via=The TimesMachine archive viewer|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-date=June 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607005442/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/08/archives/forward-day-by-day-the-38th-first-lady-not-a-robot-at-all-betty.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
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 [[1948 United States House of Representatives elections|election]] because, as '' | 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 [[1948 United States House of Representatives elections|election]] because, as ''The New York Times'' reported in a 1974 profile of Betty Ford, "Jerry Ford was running for Congress and wasn't sure how voters might feel about his marrying a divorced exdancer."<ref name=NYT1974Howard/> | ||
The couple had four children: Michael Gerald, born in 1950; John Gardner (known as Jack), born in 1952; [[Steven Ford|Steven Meigs]], born in 1956; and [[Susan Ford Bales|Susan Elizabeth]], born in 1957.<ref name="GF:FL">{{cite web| last=Greene| first=John Robert| title=Gerald Ford: Family Life| url=https://millercenter.org/president/ford/family-life| publisher=Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia| location=Charlottesville, Virginia| access-date=March 25, 2018| date=October 4, 2016| archive-date=March 26, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064021/https://millercenter.org/president/ford/family-life| url-status=live}}</ref> | The couple had four children: Michael Gerald, born in 1950; John Gardner (known as Jack), born in 1952; [[Steven Ford|Steven Meigs]], born in 1956; and [[Susan Ford Bales|Susan Elizabeth]], born in 1957.<ref name="GF:FL">{{cite web| last=Greene| first=John Robert| title=Gerald Ford: Family Life| url=https://millercenter.org/president/ford/family-life| publisher=Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia| location=Charlottesville, Virginia| access-date=March 25, 2018| date=October 4, 2016| archive-date=March 26, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064021/https://millercenter.org/president/ford/family-life| url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
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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.<ref name=sacrifice>{{cite web|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/30916-Gerald-Ford-Bettys-husband/|title=Gerald Ford, Betty's Husband|access-date=December 4, 2009|publisher=The Phoenix Media/Communications Group|archive-date=May 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501082051/http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/30916-Gerald-Ford-Bettys-husband/|url-status=live}}</ref> "In all the years I sat in the House, I never knew Mr. 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]].<ref name=publicimage /> | 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.<ref name=sacrifice>{{cite web|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/30916-Gerald-Ford-Bettys-husband/|title=Gerald Ford, Betty's Husband|access-date=December 4, 2009|publisher=The Phoenix Media/Communications Group|archive-date=May 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501082051/http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/30916-Gerald-Ford-Bettys-husband/|url-status=live}}</ref> "In all the years I sat in the House, I never knew Mr. 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]].<ref name=publicimage /> | ||
According to the [[Gallup Organization]], Ford 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.<ref name="ug554">Daniel, Clifton (October 13, 1974). [https://www.nytimes.com/1974/10/13/archives/fords-gallup-rating-off-21-points-after-pardon-unexpected-wounds.html Ford's Gallup Rating Off 21 Points After Pardon]. | According to the [[Gallup Organization]], Ford 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.<ref name="ug554">Daniel, Clifton (October 13, 1974). [https://www.nytimes.com/1974/10/13/archives/fords-gallup-rating-off-21-points-after-pardon-unexpected-wounds.html Ford's Gallup Rating Off 21 Points After Pardon]. The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2024.</ref><ref name=publicimage>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/presidents/gerald-r-ford-1451818.html|title=Gerald R Ford|access-date=December 2, 2009|work=The Independent|location=London|date=January 21, 2009|archive-date=July 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717041158/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/presidents/gerald-r-ford-1451818.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By January 1975, his disapproval rating had surpassed his approval rating.<ref name="53bbhp">Gallup, George (February 21, 1975). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-criticism-of-for/158197117/ Criticism of Ford Policies]. [[Gallup Organization]]. ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch''. Retrieved October 31, 2024.</ref> | ||
In recent years, many grant in hindsight that Ford had respectably discharged with considerable dignity a great responsibility that he had not sought regarding the Nixon pardon.<ref name=publicimage /> | In recent years, many grant in hindsight that Ford had respectably discharged with considerable dignity a great responsibility that he had not sought regarding the Nixon pardon.<ref name=publicimage /> | ||
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* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Gerald_Ford.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]] | * [http://www.ontheissues.org/Gerald_Ford.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]] | ||
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/geraldford Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs | * [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/geraldford Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs | ||
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/gerald_rudolph_jr_ford/index.html Collected news and commentary] at '' | * [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/gerald_rudolph_jr_ford/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''The New York Times'' | ||
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