| GERALD RUDOPH FORD Gerald Ford had been
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives 13 straight
times before being chosen by President Richard Nixon
to replace Spiro
Agnew, who had resigned the vice-presidency while
under criminal investigation for graft, as
Vice-President. He was subsequently elevated to the
presidency upon the resignation of Nixon, who was facing
almost certain impeachment because of his alleged role in
the Watergate
political scandal.
Chronology of His Life and Vareer
| July 14, 1913 |
|
Born in Omaha, Nebraska. |
| 1927 |
|
Achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy
Scouts of America. |
| 1935 |
 |
Graduated from the University of Michigan.
While a student, he was also a member of the
university's undefeated football
teams of 1932 and 1933. |
| 1935-1938 |
|
Worked as assistant football coach and boxing
coach at Yale
University. |
| 1938-1940 |
|
Was a partner in a New York City modeling
agency. |
| 1941 |
|
Received his law degree from Yale University. |
| June 1941 |
|
Admitted to the Michigan bar and opened a law
office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. |
| 1942-1946 |
|
Served in the U.S. Navy during World
War II. |
| October 15, 1948 |
 |
Married Elizabeth
(Betty) Bloomer. |
| 1948 |
|
Elected to the first of 13 successive terms
in the U.S. House of Representatives. |
| 1965 |
|
Became House Minority Leader. |
| December
6, 1973 |
|
Became Vice-President
of the United States. |
| August 9,
1974 |
 |
Succeeded to the presidency. |
| 1976 |
|
Lost presidential election to James E.
Carter, Jr. |
| January 1979 |
 |
Toured the Middle
East for two weeks. |
| February 10, 1979 |
|
Susan Ford, his only daughter, married Secret
Service agent Charles F. Vance in Palm Desert,
California. |
| April 22, 1979 |
|
Welcomed his first grandchild, Sarah Joyce
Ford, daughter of oldest son Michael and his wife
Gayle. |
| June 1979 |
|
Published A Time to Heal, a memoir
of his days in the White House. |
| June 1979 |
|
Laid the cornerstone of the Gerald Ford
Presidential Library at the University of
Michigan. |
| September 1979 |
|
Made a four-state speaking tour. |
| December 26, 2006 |
|
Died in Rancho Mirage, California. |
Notes and Trivia
Gerald Ford was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr. His
parents divorced soon after his birth. His mother
subsequently married Gerald R. Ford, who adopted the
youngster; his name was legally changed on December 3,
1935.
Source
Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum www.ford.utexas.edu
See Also
President Richard Nixon
Spiro Agnew
Watergate
Yale
University
World
War II
Elizabeth (Betty) Bloomer
James E. Carter,
Jr.
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