Gerald Ford Museum

Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI

The highpoint of our time with Ray and Butch (see previous post) was a trip to Grand Rapids to tour the Gerald Ford Museum. His presidential library is located in Ann Arbor, where he was an All-American football player for the University of Michigan. Gerald Ford was our only President to never have been elected to Vice President or President. He had served for nearly 25 years as a Congressman from Michigan before being appointed by Richard Nixon to replace V.P.Spiro Agnew, who had resigned in disgrace. Eventually Nixon resigned, leaving Ford as the new President in 1974. A little later he would pardon Nixon for his crimes “to heal America.” But the public, wanting blood, would not forgive him and voted in Jimmie Carter to replace him in 1976.

He Paid the Price for Doing the Right Thing

America's Only Eagle
Scout President

Ford always swore there was no deal with Nixon, and we believe him. He was always a man of integrity and was our only Eagle Scout President. He maintained those values all his life. When Jimmie Carter came into office, he thanked Ford for what he did to help heal America and give her back her confidence after Watergate. So the one act that doomed Ford's presidency was probably also his greatest achievement.

Betty and Gerald

Ford was born in Nebraska and adopted by his stepfather as a small child. His real name was Leslie Lynch King, and his father was a wife abuser. Ford’s mother left her first husband just days after Gerald’s birth. Our only other adopted president was Bill Clinton. He was happily married to his wife Betty Bloomer, a former dancer and model who was also a divorcee. She was a popular First Lady with liberal views concerning women. She and Ford were married for 58 years. Betty also had a drinking problem, which she eventually conquered. She started the Betty Ford Center for addicts.

Ford Statue

Gerald Ford served as a naval officer during WW II and saw action in several engagements in the Pacific. He was nearly killed on one occasion when his ship was hit with a typhoon.

Last Rites for a Good Man

Following his years as president, Ford remained active in the Republican Party. He was the kind of leader the GOP could surely use today. After experiencing health problems, Ford died in his home on December 26, 2006. He had lived longer than any other U.S. president  (93 years and 165 days), while his 895- day presidency remains the shortest of all Presidents who did not die in office.