Gerald R. Ford

Date of Birth: July 14, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: December 26, 2006

Biography

Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from August 1974 to January 1977. Born Leslie Lynch King Jr. on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska, he was renamed after his mother remarried Gerald Rudolff Ford. Ford grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he excelled in sports and academics. He attended the University of Michigan and later Yale Law School. Ford served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, earning several commendations. Post-war, he entered politics and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948, where he served for 25 years, eventually becoming the House Minority Leader. Ford became Vice President in December 1973 after Spiro Agnew’s resignation and assumed the presidency on August 9, 1974, following Richard Nixon’s resignation over the Watergate scandal. Ford’s presidency was marked by efforts to heal the nation after Watergate, including his controversial pardon of Nixon. Despite these efforts, he lost the 1976 presidential election to Jimmy Carter. Ford retired to California and remained active in public life until his death on December 26, 2006, at the age of 93.

5 Interesting Facts about Gerald R. Ford

1. Gerald Ford is the only person to have served as both Vice President and President without being elected to either office.

2. He was a star athlete at the University of Michigan, where he played center on the football team and was voted the team’s most valuable player.

3. Ford survived two assassination attempts during his presidency, both in California in September 1975.

4. He was known for his candor and straightforwardness, often holding press conferences and communicating directly with the American public.

5. Ford lived longer than any other U.S. president until Ronald Reagan surpassed him.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gerald R. Ford

1. “Our long national nightmare is over.”

2. “I am a Ford, not a Lincoln.”

3. “I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government but civilization itself.”

4. “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”

5. “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, and there never will be under a Ford administration.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Ford’s net worth was estimated to be around $7 million.

Children

Gerald Ford and his wife, Betty Ford, had four children: 1. Michael Gerald Ford – Born in 1950, he is an ordained minister and has been involved in various educational and religious organizations. 2. John “Jack” Gardner Ford – Born in 1952, he has worked in politics and business. 3. Steven Meigs Ford – Born in 1956, he pursued a career in acting. 4. Susan Elizabeth Ford – Born in 1957, she is a photojournalist and author, and has been active in promoting awareness about breast cancer.