Gerald R. Ford - Facts and Favorites
Note: Information drawn from Gerald R. Ford Library staff knowledge and the Library's Vertical File.
Born: July 14, 1913, Omaha, Nebraska. Moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1914.
Died: December
26, 2006,
Rancho
Mirage,
California.
Personal Data: Height - 6 Feet; Hair - Blond; Eyes - Blue
Ancestry: English
Religion: Episcopalian
Grade Schools:
Madison Elementary School; East Grand Rapids Elementary School.
Boy Scouts: Attained rank of Eagle Scout.
High School:
Grand
Rapids
South
High School,
Class
of 1931. Member
of National
Honor
Society,
Varsity
Letter
Club,
Glee Club,
Student
Council,
Latin
Club,
and Hi-Y
(High
School
YMCA). Participated
in football,
basketball,
and track. Earned
all-city
and all-state
honors
in football.
Assorted
Summer
and Miscellaneous
Jobs:
Filled
and cleaned
paint
cans in
family
paint
business;
mowed
lawns;
handled
concessions
at an
amusement
park;
washed
dishes
and grilled
hamburgers
in a restaurant;
Park Ranger,
Yellowstone
National
Park;
washed
dishes
in college
fraternity
house;
model.
College:
B.A.,
University
of Michigan,
Class
of 1935. Majored
in economics
and political
science. Member
of Michagamua
(senior
men's
honor
society),
Sphinx
(junior
men's
honor
society),
Delta
Kappa
Epsilon
fraternity,
Interfraternity
Council,
and Student
Council. Played
center
and linebacker
on U-M
football
team. Started
at center
and named
team MVP
in senior
year. Played
in East-West
College
All-Star
game and
Chicago
Tribune
College
All-Star
game. Did
not earn
All-America
honors
as popularly
believed. Received
contract
offers
from the
Green
Bay Packers
and Detroit
Lions
(which
Ford turned
down in
favor
of law
school).
Law School:
LL.B.,
Yale University
Law School,
Class
of 1941. Member
of Phi
Delta
Phi legal
fraternity,
and worked
as assistant
football
coach
and freshman
boxing
coach.
Occupation: Attorney.
Military Service:
During
the attack
on Pearl
Harbor
Gerald
Ford lived
in Grand
Rapids
and practiced
law. He
joined
the US
Navy in
1942 and
remained
on active
duty until
1946. Ford
served
aboard
the USS
Monterey
and was
discharged
with the
rank of
Lt. Commander. He
received
the following
medals
and awards:
the American
Campaign
Medal,
the Asiatic-American
Campaign
Medal
with one
silver
star and
four bronze
stars,
the World
War II
Victory
Medal,
and the
Philippine
Liberation
Ribbon
with two
bronze
stars. Ford
remained
in the
Naval
Reserves
until
1963.
Marriage:
Elizabeth Bloomer Warren (b. April 8, 1918), October 15, 1948.
Children:
Michael Gerald (b. March 14, 1950), John (Jack) Gardner (b. March 16, 1952, Steven Meigs (b. May 19, 1956), Susan Elizabeth (b. July 6, 1957).
Congress:
Served
Grand
Rapids
and Kent
County
in United
States
House
of Representatives,
1949-1973. House
Minority
Leader,
1965-1973.
Vice President:
Succeeded
Spiro
Agnew
as Richard
Nixon's
Vice President
following
Agnew's
resignation. Confirmed
on December
6, 1973.
President:
Sworn-in
as President
(at the
age of
61 years,
26 days)
following
Richard
Nixon's
resignation
on August
9, 1974. Selected
Nelson
Rockefeller
as his
Vice President. Left
office
on January
20, 1977,
following
general
election
loss to
Jimmy
Carter.
Presidential Pets:
Liberty, Golden Retriever; Misty, Golden Retriever (Liberty's off-spring); Shan Shein, Siamese Cat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
President Ford's Favorites
Hobby: stamp collecting
Breakfast: orange juice, melon, English muffins, and tea with lemon
Food: pot roast and red cabbage (for recipes see The White House Family Cookbook by Henry Haller (New York: Random House, 1987, pp. 176-179)
Dessert: butter pecan ice cream
Hymn: The Navy Hymn - "Eternal Father Strong to Save"
Drink: coffee, iced tea
Color: red
Participatory Sport: golf, tennis, skiing, swimming
Sports Figure: Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers
Parlor Game: bridge
Flower: apple blossom, azalea
Dance: ballroom
Music: jazz, swing
Book: non-fiction contemporary history
Weather: sunshine on golf course, snow on ski slopes
Place to Visit: Vail, Colorado
Time of Day, Season: dawn, all seasons
Hero: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Most
Unforgettable
Moment: Noon,
August
9, 1974,
when
sworn
in as
President.
Most Valued Advice: "That which comes from my wife."
Memberships: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, 33rd Degree Mason
Last
Updated:
April
10, 2007
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