GERALD
R. FORD
Gerald was born on July 14, 1913 in
Omaha
,
Nebraska
. His biological father was Leslie Lynch King (1882-1941), Wool Merchant. His
adoptive father was Gerald Rudolph Ford, Sr. His mother was Dorothy Ayer Gardner
Ford (1892-1967). Gerald had no full siblings. From his father’s second
marriage he had a half brother and two half sisters-Leslie H. “Bud” King,
Mrs. Marjorie Warner and Patricia King. From his mother second marriage he had
three half brothers-Thomas G. Ford, Richard A. Ford and James F. Ford.
Ford married Elizabeth Anne Bloomer when he was 35 and she
was 30 years of age on October 15, 1948, at Grace Episcopal Church in
Grand Rapids
,
Michigan
. He had three sons and a daughter-Michael Gerald Ford (1950- ), minister; John
“jack” Gardner Ford (1952- ), journalist, public relations man; Steven Meigs
Ford (1956- ), actor, - and Susan Elizabeth Ford (1957- ), photographer.
He attended Madison elementary school for kindergarten,
East Grand Rapids Elementary school for grades one through six, and South High
School from seventh grade trough his senior year. In 1931 he entered the
University
of
Michigan
majoring in economics and Political science. He graduated in the top 25 percent
of
Michigan
’s class of 1935. Taking advantage of his sports outstanding background from
college, he took a job as an assistant football coach at
Yale
University
. He was accepted in a trial basis at
Yale
University
in 1938 where he studied Law. He received his law degree in January 1941 and
was admitted to the bar in June of the same year.
Ford served in the Navy from April 1942 to February 1946,
rising from ensign to lieutenant commander. He served as U.S. Representative
from 1949 to 1973 and was the House Minority leader from 1965 to 1973 before he
was appointed vice president by President Nixon after the resignation of vice
president Agnew in October 1973.
Gerald Ford was sworn in as president of the
United States
by chief justice Warren Burger in the East room of the White House after the
resignation of President Nixon due to the Watergate scandal at 12:03 pm, August
9, 1974. His vice president was Nelson A. Rockefeller (1908-1979) who served as
vice president from 1974 to 1977.
Gerald Ford suffered two minor strokes before his 90th
birthday. He had some health problems associated with old age. Ford died at age
93 of a heart attack December 26, 2006, at his home in Rancho Mirage,
California
.
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