presidential portraits
Gerald R. Ford
July 14, 1913 - Dec. 26, 2006
Tribune illustration
by Rick Tuma
State: Michigan
Religion: Episcopal
Marriage: Elizabeth “Betty” Anne
Bloomer Warren
Military service: During World War
II, he served in the Navy, rising from
ensign to lieutenant commander.
While on the USS Monterey, a light
aircraft carrier, he took part in virtually all the major battles in the South
Pacific.
Party: Republican
Term: Aug. 9, 1974 - Jan. 20, 1977
Vice president: Vacant 1974; Nelson
Rockefeller, 1974-1977
Highlights of presidency: In September 1974, Ford granted “a full, free
and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon “for all offenses
against the United States which he ...
has committed or may have committed or taken part in” during his term
in office. The pardon was greatly
criticized at first but in hindsight has
been seen as the healing device Ford
intended it to be. He offered clemency
for the tens of thousands of Vietnam-era draft evaders. The Helsinki
Agreement in 1975 eased East-West
tensions among 35 nations -- the West
officially recognized East European
boundaries, and the East relaxed
travel and communications restrictions with the West. Ford refused
to lend federal funds to financially
strapped New York City until the city
raised taxes and cut spending. He
then extended $2.3 billion in short-
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term loans. Ford escaped two assassination attempts within 17 days in
September 1975, both by women.
Did you know? Ford attained the
rank of Eagle Scout. He was once a
model and a park ranger. He turned
down offers to play football for the
Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Ford was right-handed but wrote
with his left hand. Ford also served
as a member of the U.S. House, 19491973; House minority leader, 19651973; and vice president, 1973-1974.
He is the only president who was
not elected to either the presidency
or vice presidency. He had another
swimming pool dug at the White
House after Nixon had filled it in.
Ford was the first president to visit
Japan while in office and the first
whose parents were divorced. Ford is
the longest-lived president at age 93.