Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913 – December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States. He became president after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 and served until 1977. Ford was the second vice president under Nixon, taking over after Spiro Agnew resigned in 1973. His presidency was affected by the Watergate Scandal. Before becoming vice president, Ford worked in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years.

Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He studied at the University of Michigan, where he played football, and later attended Yale Law School. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1946. Ford was elected to the House of Representatives in 1948 from Michigan's 5th congressional district. He worked in this role for nearly 25 years, including the last nine as the House minority leader. During his time in the House, he helped investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In December 1973, two months after Spiro Agnew resigned, Ford became the first person appointed to the vice presidency under the 25th Amendment. He became president in August 1974 after Nixon resigned.

During his presidency, Ford faced the worst economy in the United States since the Great Depression, with rising inflation and a recession. He made a controversial decision to pardon Richard Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal. In foreign policy, Congress took a larger role, and the president’s powers were limited. Ford signed the Helsinki Accords, which helped ease tensions during the Cold War. The fall of South Vietnam in 1975 ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. In the 1976 Republican presidential primary, Ford narrowly defeated Ronald Reagan for the Republican nomination but lost the election to Jimmy Carter. Ford is the only person to serve as president without winning an election for president or vice president.

After leaving the presidency, Ford stayed active in the Republican Party but had disagreements with conservative members over social issues in the 1990s and early 2000s. He also reconciled with Jimmy Carter after their 1976 election. Ford died in Rancho Mirage, California, in 2006 after health problems. Historians and political scientists have ranked Ford as a below-average president, but public opinion polls about his presidency were more positive.

Early life

Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. on July 14, 1913, at 3202 Woolworth Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska, where his parents lived with his paternal grandparents. He was the only child of Dorothy Ayer Gardner and Leslie Lynch King Sr., a wool trader. His paternal grandfather was a banker and businessman named Charles Henry King, and his maternal grandfather was an Illinois politician and businessman named Levi Addison Gardner. Ford’s parents separated just sixteen days after his birth, and his mother took the infant Ford with her to Oak Park, Illinois, where her sister Tannisse and brother-in-law Clarence Haskins James lived at 410 N. Humphrey Ave. From there, she moved to the home of her parents in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Gardner and King divorced in December 1913, and she gained full custody of their son. Ford’s paternal grandfather paid child support until shortly before his death in 1930.

Ford later said that his biological father had a history of hitting his mother. In a biography of Ford, James M. Cannon wrote that the separation and divorce of Ford’s parents was sparked when, a few days after Ford’s birth, Leslie King used a butcher knife to threaten his wife, infant son, and Ford’s nursemaid. Ford later told confidants that his father had first hit his mother when she smiled at another man during their honeymoon.

After living with her parents for two and a half years, on February 1, 1917, Gardner married Gerald Rudolff Ford, a salesman in a family-owned paint and varnish company. Though never formally adopted, her young son was referred to as Gerald Rudolff Ford Jr. from then on; the name change, which included the anglicized spelling “Rudolph,” was officially recorded on December 3, 1935. He was raised in what is now East Grand Rapids with his three half-brothers from his mother’s second marriage: Thomas Gardner “Tom” Ford (1918–1995), Richard Addison “Dick” Ford (1924–2015), and James Francis “Jim” Ford (1927–2001).

Ford was involved in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the program’s highest rank, the Eagle Scout, in August 1927. He is the only Eagle Scout to have become U.S. president. Ford attended Grand Rapids South High School, where he was a star athlete and captain of the football team. In 1930, he was selected to the All-City team of the Grand Rapids City League. He also attracted the attention of college recruiters.

College and law school

Ford attended the University of Michigan, where he played center and linebacker for the school's football team. He helped the Wolverines win two undefeated seasons and national titles in 1932 and 1933. In his senior year of 1934, the team had a big drop in performance and won only one game. However, Ford remained the team's top player. During one game, Michigan held a strongly favored team, Minnesota—the eventual national champion—to a scoreless tie in the first half. After the game, assistant coach Bennie Oosterbaan said, "When I walked into the dressing room at halftime, I had tears in my eyes I was so proud of them. Ford and Cedric Sweet played their hearts out. They were everywhere on defense." Ford later said, "During 25 years in politics, I often thought of the experiences before, during, and after that game in 1934. Remembering them has helped me many times to face tough situations, take action, and make every effort possible despite difficult odds." His teammates later voted Ford as their most valuable player, with one assistant coach noting, "They felt Jerry was one guy who would stay and fight in a losing cause."

During Ford's senior year, a disagreement arose when Georgia Tech said it would not play a scheduled game with Michigan if a Black player named Willis Ward played. Students, players, and alumni protested, but university officials gave in and kept Ward out of the game. Ford was Ward's best friend on the team, and they shared a room during road trips. Ford reportedly threatened to quit the team in response to the university's decision, but he eventually agreed to play against Georgia Tech when Ward personally asked him to play.

In 1934, Ford was chosen for the Eastern Team in the Shriners' East–West Shrine Game in San Francisco (a benefit for children with physical disabilities), which took place on January 1, 1935. He also played on the 1935 Collegiate All-Star football team, where he faced the Chicago Bears in the Chicago College All-Star Game at Soldier Field. In 1994, the University of Michigan retired Ford's No. 48 jersey in honor of his athletic achievements and later political career. With the Ford family's approval, the jersey was returned to use in 2012 as part of the Michigan Football Legends program and given to sophomore linebacker Desmond Morgan before a home game against Illinois on October 13.

Throughout his life, Ford remained interested in his school and football. He occasionally attended games and visited players and coaches during practices. At one point, he asked to join the players in the huddle. Before state events, Ford often had the Navy band play the University of Michigan fight song, "The Victors," instead of "Hail to the Chief."

Ford graduated from Michigan in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. He turned down offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. Instead, he began working in September 1935 as the boxing coach and assistant varsity football coach at Yale University and applied to Yale's law school.

Ford wanted to attend Yale Law School starting in 1935. Yale officials at first refused his admission because of his full-time coaching duties. In 1936, Ford worked as a seasonal park ranger at Yellowstone National Park's Canyon Station. He then spent the summer of 1937 as a student at the University of Michigan Law School and was eventually admitted to Yale Law School in the spring of 1938. That year, he was promoted to the position of junior varsity head football coach at Yale. While at Yale, Ford worked as a model. He first worked with the John Robert Powers agency before investing in the Harry Conover agency, with whom he modelled until 1941.

While attending Yale Law School, Ford joined a group of students led by R. Douglas Stuart Jr. and signed a petition to support the 1939 Neutrality Act. The petition was shared nationally and inspired the America First Committee, a group that wanted to keep the U.S. out of World War II. Ford's first experience in politics was in the summer of 1940 when he worked for the Republican presidential campaign of Wendell Willkie.

Ford graduated in the top third of his class in 1941 and was admitted to the Michigan bar shortly after. In May 1941, he opened a law practice in Grand Rapids with a friend, Philip W. Buchen.

U.S. Naval Reserve

After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Ford joined the Navy. On April 13, 1942, he was given the rank of ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. On April 20, he began active duty at the V-5 instructor school in Annapolis, Maryland. After one month of training, he moved to Navy Preflight School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he taught basic navigation, ordnance, gunnery, first aid, and military drills. He also coached nine sports, especially swimming, boxing, and football. During his time at the school, he was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade on June 2, 1942, and to lieutenant in March 1943.

When Ford requested sea duty, he was sent in May 1943 to the pre-commissioning team for the new aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) at New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. From the ship’s commissioning on June 17, 1943, until December 1944, Ford served as assistant navigator, Athletic Officer, and antiaircraft battery officer on the Monterey. During this time, the carrier took part in battles in the Pacific Theater with the Third and Fifth Fleets in late 1943 and 1944. In 1943, the Monterey helped secure Makin Island in the Gilberts and participated in attacks on Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. In 1944, the ship supported landings at Kwajalein and Eniwetok and took part in strikes in the Marianas, Western Carolines, and northern New Guinea, as well as the Battle of the Philippine Sea. After repairs from September to November 1944, the Monterey launched attacks on Wake Island, participated in strikes in the Philippines and Ryukyus, and supported landings at Leyte and Mindoro.

Although the Monterey was not damaged by Japanese forces, it was one of several ships harmed by Typhoon Cobra, which struck Admiral William Halsey Jr.’s Third Fleet on December 18–19, 1944. The typhoon caused the loss of three destroyers and over 800 sailors. The Monterey suffered damage from a fire caused by aircraft colliding on the hangar deck. Ford, serving as General Quarters Officer of the Deck, was ordered to check the fire below deck. He did so safely and reported his findings to Captain Stuart H. Ingersoll, the ship’s commanding officer. The crew controlled the fire, and the ship resumed operations.

After the fire, the Monterey was declared unfit for service. Ford was reassigned to the Navy Pre-Flight School at Saint Mary’s College of California, where he worked in the Athletic Department until April 1945. From April 1945 to January 1946, he served on the staff of the Naval Reserve Training Command at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois, at the rank of lieutenant commander.

Ford received the following military awards: the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with nine 3⁄16" bronze stars (for operations in the Gilbert Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Marshall Islands, Asiatic and Pacific carrier raids, Hollandia, Marianas, Western Carolines, Western New Guinea, and the Leyte Operation), the Philippine Liberation Medal with two 3⁄16" bronze stars (for Leyte and Mindoro), and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged in February 1946.

U.S. House of Representatives (1949–1973)

After returning to Grand Rapids in 1946, Ford became involved in local Republican politics. Supporters encouraged him to run against Bartel J. Jonkman, the current Republican congressman. His time in the military changed his views. Ford wrote, "I came back a converted internationalist, and our congressman was an isolationist. I believed he should be replaced." Many people doubted he could win, but he won by a two-to-one margin.

In his first campaign in 1948, Ford visited voters at their homes and workplaces, including factories and farms. During one visit to a farm, Ford made a bet that led to him spending two weeks milking cows after his election victory.

Ford served in the House of Representatives for 25 years, representing Michigan's 5th congressional district from 1949 to 1973. He was known for his modest approach to leadership. A New York Times editorial described him as someone who "saw himself as a negotiator and a reconciler." He did not write any major laws during his career. Ford was appointed to the House Committee on Appropriations two years after his election and was a key member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. He described his philosophy as "a moderate in domestic affairs, an internationalist in foreign affairs, and a conservative in fiscal policy." Ford supported the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Colleagues called him a "Congressman's Congressman."

In the early 1950s, Ford refused offers to run for the U.S. Senate or the governorship of Michigan. Instead, he aimed to become Speaker of the House, which he called "the ultimate achievement."

On November 29, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Ford to the Warren Commission, a group formed to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Ford was asked to prepare a biography of the accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. He and Earl Warren also interviewed Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald. Ford communicated with the FBI during his time on the commission and shared information with the deputy director, Cartha DeLoach. In 1965, Ford co-wrote a book titled Portrait of the Assassin, which defended the findings of the Warren Report. He later supported the commission's work in a 2007 book.

In 1964, President Johnson won a large victory, securing another term as president and gaining 36 seats in the House from Republicans. After the election, Republican leaders sought a new minority leader. Ford agreed to run after discussing the decision with his family. He was chosen to replace Charles Halleck of Indiana. The group of Republicans who supported Ford became known as the "Young Turks." One member was Donald H. Rumsfeld, who later worked in Ford's administration.

During the 1960s, the Johnson Administration, which had a Democratic majority in Congress, passed many programs called the "Great Society." In the first session of the Eighty-ninth Congress, Johnson submitted 87 bills, and 84 were passed, making it one of the most successful legislative agendas in history.

In 1966, criticism grew over how the Johnson Administration handled the Vietnam War. Ford and other Republicans worried the United States was not doing enough to win the war. Public opinion turned against Johnson, and the 1966 midterm elections gave Republicans 47 more seats. This allowed Ford to block further Great Society programs.

Ford's private criticism of the Vietnam War became public when he questioned from the House floor whether the White House had a clear plan to end the war. This angered President Johnson, who accused Ford of "playing too much football without a helmet."

As minority leader, Ford appeared in televised press conferences with Senator Everett Dirksen, proposing Republican alternatives to Johnson's policies. The press jokingly called this "The Ev and Jerry Show." Johnson once said, "Jerry Ford is so dumb he can't walk and chew gum at the same time." The press reported this as "Gerald Ford can't walk and chew gum at the same time."

After Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968, Ford supported the White House agenda. Congress passed several of Nixon's proposals, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Tax Reform Act of 1969. A major Republican success was the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, which created a revenue-sharing program for state and local governments. Ford's leadership helped secure bipartisan support, with 223 votes in favor of the bill.

During his eight years as minority leader from 1965 to 1973, Ford gained many friends in the House due to his fair leadership and kind personality.

Vice presidency (1973–1974)

For ten years, Ford tried without success to help Republicans gain a majority in Congress so he could become House Speaker. He promised his wife he would try again in 1974 and retire in 1976. However, on October 10, 1973, Spiro Agnew left his job as vice president. According to The New York Times, President Nixon asked senior leaders in Congress for advice about a replacement. All leaders agreed Ford was the best choice. House Speaker Carl Albert later said, "We gave Nixon no choice but Ford." Ford accepted the nomination, telling his wife the vice presidency would be "a good ending" to his career. Ford was nominated to replace Agnew on October 12, the first time the vice-presidential vacancy rule in the 25th Amendment was used. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ford by a vote of 92 to 3 on November 27. The House confirmed Ford by a vote of 387 to 35 on December 6. After the House vote, Ford took an oath to become vice president.

Ford became vice president while the Watergate scandal was happening. On August 1, 1974, Alexander Haig, Nixon’s chief of staff, called Ford to warn him to prepare for becoming president. At the time, Ford and his wife, Betty, were living in suburban Virginia, waiting to move into the new vice president’s home in Washington, D.C. Ford later said, "Al Haig asked to come over and see me to tell me that there would be a new tape released on a Monday, and the evidence in it was very strong. He said there might be an impeachment or a resignation. He told me, 'You need to be ready because things might change quickly, and you could become president.' I said to Betty, 'I don’t think we’ll ever live in the vice president’s house.'"

Presidency (1974–1977)

When President Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald Ford became president automatically. He took the oath of office in the East Room of the White House. This made Ford the only person to become president without being elected to the presidency or vice presidency. After taking office, Ford gave a speech to the public, explaining how unusual his position was. He later said, "Our long national nightmare is over."

On August 20, 1974, Ford chose former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to be vice president. George H. W. Bush was Rockefeller’s main competitor for the position. Before being confirmed, Rockefeller faced long hearings in Congress. This caused problems when it was discovered that he had given large gifts to senior aides, such as Henry Kissinger. Although some conservative Republicans were unhappy with Rockefeller’s selection, most voted to confirm him. His nomination passed both the House and Senate. Some, like Barry Goldwater, voted against him.

On September 8, 1974, Ford issued Proclamation 4311, which gave Nixon a full and unconditional pardon for any crimes he may have committed while president. In a televised speech, Ford explained that he believed the pardon was best for the country. He said, "The Nixon family’s situation is a tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must."

Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon was very controversial. Critics said Ford made a "corrupt bargain" with Nixon, meaning Ford’s pardon was exchanged for Nixon’s resignation, which allowed Ford to become president. Ford’s first press secretary, Jerald terHorst, resigned in protest after the pardon. According to Bob Woodward, Nixon’s chief of staff, Alexander Haig, suggested a pardon deal to Ford. Ford later said he pardoned Nixon mainly because of their personal friendship. Historians believe the controversy over the pardon was a major reason Ford lost the 1976 presidential election. At the time, The New York Times called the pardon a "profoundly unwise, divisive, and unjust act" that hurt Ford’s credibility. On October 17, 1974, Ford testified before Congress about the pardon. He was the first sitting president since Abraham Lincoln to testify before the House of Representatives.

After the pardon, Ford often avoided mentioning Nixon by name in public speeches. He referred to him as "my predecessor" or "the former president." When asked about this during a trip to California in 1974, White House correspondent Fred Barnes recalled Ford saying, "I just can’t bring myself to do it."

After leaving the White House in January 1977, Ford privately explained his pardon of Nixon by carrying a portion of the text from Burdick v. United States, a 1915 Supreme Court decision. The decision stated that a pardon implies a presumption of guilt, and accepting a pardon is like confessing to that guilt. In 2001, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum awarded Ford the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for pardoning Nixon. Senator Ted Kennedy, who presented the award, said he had initially opposed the pardon but later believed Ford made the right decision.

On September 16, 1974, Ford issued Presidential Proclamation 4313, which created a conditional amnesty program for military deserters and Vietnam War draft dodgers who had fled to countries like Canada. To qualify, individuals had to reaffirm their loyalty to the United States and serve two years in public service or military work. A Clemency Board reviewed applications and made recommendations for pardons or changes in military discharge status. Full pardons for draft dodgers occurred later during the presidency of Jimmy Carter.

When Ford became president, he inherited Nixon’s Cabinet. During his short time in office, he replaced all Cabinet members except Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon. Political commentators called Ford’s major Cabinet changes in the fall of 1975 the "Halloween Massacre." One of Ford’s appointees, William Thaddeus Coleman Jr., became the second Black man to serve in a presidential Cabinet (after Robert C. Weaver) and the first in a Republican administration.

In 1974, Ford selected George H. W. Bush as Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to the People’s Republic of China. Later, in 1975, he named Bush Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Ford’s transition chairman and first Chief of Staff was Donald Rumsfeld, a former congressman and ambassador. In 1975, Rumsfeld became the youngest-ever U.S. Secretary of Defense. Ford then chose Dick Cheney, a young Wyoming politician, to replace Rumsfeld as Chief of Staff. Cheney later became Ford’s campaign manager for the 1976 presidential election.

The 1974 Congressional midterm elections took place after the Watergate scandal and less than three months after Ford became president. The Democratic Party gained 49 seats from Republicans, increasing their majority to 291 out of 435 seats. This gave Democrats enough seats to override a presidential veto or propose a constitutional amendment. Ford’s former Republican House seat was also won by a Democrat, Richard Vander Veen, who defeated Robert VanderLaan. In the Senate, the Democratic majority grew to 61 out of 100 seats.

The economy was a major concern during Ford’s presidency. One of his first actions was to create the Economic Policy Board by Executive Order on September 30, 1974. In October 1974, Ford urged the public to "Whip Inflation Now" by wearing "WIN" buttons and reducing spending. He believed controlling inflation would help reduce unemployment. Ford also introduced a one-year, five-percent income tax increase on corporations and wealthy individuals. This plan would remove $4.4 billion from the budget, bringing federal spending below $300 billion. At the time, inflation was over 12 percent.

The federal budget ran a deficit every year during Ford’s administration.

Post-presidency (1977–2006)

The Nixon pardon controversy eventually ended. Ford's successor, Jimmy Carter, began his 1977 inaugural address by thanking the outgoing president, saying, "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land."

After leaving the White House, the Fords moved to Denver, Colorado. Ford successfully invested in oil with Marvin Davis, which later provided an income for Ford's children.

He continued to attend events of historical and ceremonial importance, such as presidential inaugurals and memorial services. In January 1977, he became the president of Eisenhower Fellowships in Philadelphia and later served as chairman of its board of trustees from 1980 to 1986. In 1977, he reluctantly agreed to be interviewed by James M. Naughton, a New York Times journalist who was assigned to write the former president's advance obituary, an article that would be updated before its publication. In 1979, Ford published his autobiography, A Time to Heal (Harper/Reader's Digest, 454 pages). A review in Foreign Affairs described it as, "Serene, unruffled, unpretentious, like the author. This is the shortest and most honest of recent presidential memoirs, but there are no surprises, no deep probings of motives or events. No more here than meets the eye."

During the term of his successor, Jimmy Carter, Ford received monthly reports from President Carter's senior staff on international and domestic issues and was always invited to lunch at the White House whenever he was in Washington, D.C. Their close friendship developed after Carter left office, with their trip together to the funeral of Anwar el-Sadat in 1981 serving as a key moment. Until Ford's death, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, visited the Fords' home frequently. Ford and Carter served as honorary co-chairs of the National Commission on Federal Election Reform in 2001 and of the Continuity of Government Commission in 2002.

Like Presidents Carter, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, Ford was an honorary co-chair of the Council for Excellence in Government, a group focused on improving government performance and providing leadership training to federal employees. He also spent much time playing golf, often participating in both private and public events with comedian Bob Hope, a longtime friend. In 1977, he achieved a hole-in-one during a Pro-am event at Colonial Country Club in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1977, Ford established the Gerald R. Ford Institute of Public Policy at Albion College in Albion, Michigan, to train undergraduates in public policy. In April 1981, he opened the Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the north campus of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, followed in September by the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids.

Ford considered running for the Republican nomination in 1980, choosing not to serve on corporate boards to keep his options open for a rematch with Carter. Ford criticized Carter's handling of the SALT II negotiations and foreign policy in the Middle East and Africa. Many believed Ford also wanted to change his image as an "accidental president" and win a term on his own. Ford thought the more conservative Ronald Reagan would struggle to defeat Carter and allow the incumbent to win a second term. Ford was encouraged by his former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, and governors Jim Rhodes of Ohio and Bill Clements of Texas to enter the race. On March 15, 1980, Ford announced he would not run for the Republican nomination, vowing to support the eventual nominee.

After Ronald Reagan secured the Republican nomination in 1980, he considered Ford as a potential vice-presidential running mate but negotiations failed. Ford required Reagan to agree to an "unprecedented co-presidency," giving Ford control over key executive branch appointments. After rejecting these terms, Reagan chose George H. W. Bush as his running mate. Ford appeared in a campaign commercial for the Reagan-Bush ticket, stating the country would be "better served by a Reagan presidency rather than a continuation of the weak and politically expedient policies of Jimmy Carter." On October 8, 1980, Ford said former President Nixon's involvement in the general election could harm the Reagan campaign: "I think it would have been much more helpful if Mr. Nixon had stayed in the background during this campaign. It would have been much more beneficial to Ronald Reagan."

On October 3, 1980, Ford blamed Carter for the latter's criticism of the Federal Reserve Board, saying, "President Carter, when the going gets tough, will do anything to save his own political skin. This latest action by the president is cowardly."

Following the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, Ford told reporters at a fundraiser for Thomas Kean that criminals who use firearms should face the death penalty if someone is injured with the weapon.

In September 1981, Ford advised Reagan not to follow Wall Street demands and to pursue his own economic policies during an appearance on Good Morning America: "He shouldn't let the gurus of Wall Street decide what the economic future of this country is going to be. They are wrong in my opinion." During a news conference on October 20, 1981, Ford stated that stopping the Reagan administration's Saudi arms package could harm American relations in the Middle East.

On March 24, 1982, Ford endorsed Reagan's economic policies while noting the possibility of Reagan facing a stalemate in Congress if unwilling to compromise.

Ford founded the annual AEI World Forum in 1982 and joined the American Enterprise Institute as a distinguished fellow. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate at Central Connecticut State University on March 23, 1988.

During an August 1982 fundraising event, Ford opposed a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget, stating the need to elect "members of the House and Senate who will immediately act more responsibly in fiscal matters." Ford participated in the 1982 midterm elections, traveling to Tennessee in October of that year to support Republican candidates.

In January 1984, a letter signed by Ford and Carter urging world leaders to continue efforts to end world hunger was sent to United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.

In 1987, Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of District of Columbia Circuit Court judge Robert Bork after Bork was nominated by President Reagan to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Bork's nomination was rejected by a vote of 58–42.

In 1987, Ford's book Humor and the Presidency, a collection of humorous political anecdotes, was published.

By 1988, Ford was a member of several corporate boards, including Commercial Credit, Nova Pharmaceutical, the Pullman Company, Tesoro Petroleum, and Tiger International, Inc. He also became an honorary director of Citigroup, a position he held until his death.

In October 1990, Ford appeared in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with Bob Hope to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the birth of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower, where the two unveiled a plaque with the signature.

Death and funeral

Ford passed away on December 26, 2006, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, due to arteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease and diffuse arteriosclerosis. He had advanced coronary artery disease and severe aortic stenosis and insufficiency, caused by calcific changes in one of his heart valves. At the time of his death, Ford was the longest-lived U.S. president, having lived 93 years and 165 days (45 days longer than Ronald Reagan, whose record he surpassed). He died on the 34th anniversary of President Harry S. Truman’s death; he was the last surviving member of the Warren Commission.

On December 30, 2006, Ford became the 11th U.S. president to lie in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. A state funeral and memorial services were held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, January 2, 2007. After the service, Ford was buried at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Ford’s family requested that Scouts participate in his funeral. A few selected Scouts served as ushers inside the National Cathedral. About 400 Eagle Scouts were part of the funeral procession, where they formed an honor guard as the casket passed in front of the museum.

One of the songs selected by Ford during the procession was the University of Michigan fight song, as it was a favorite of his that he preferred to be played during his presidency. After his death in December 2006, the University of Michigan Marching Band played the school’s fight song for him one final time, for his last ride from the Gerald R. Ford Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The State of Michigan commissioned and submitted a statue of Ford to the National Statuary Hall Collection, replacing Zachariah Chandler. It was unveiled on May 3, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda.

Personal life

Ford spoke about his stepfather and mother, saying, "My stepfather was a great person and my mother was also wonderful. I believe I could not have written a better plan for raising a strong and healthy family."

Ford had three younger half-siblings from his biological father’s second marriage to Marjorie King (1921–1993). They were Leslie Henry King (1923–1976) and Patricia Jane King (1925–1980). Ford did not meet them as a child and did not know them until 1960. He learned about his biological father when he was 17, after his parents told him about his birth. At that time, his biological father, whom Ford described as a "carefree and wealthy man who did not care much about his firstborn son’s dreams," approached Ford while he was working as a waiter in a restaurant in Grand Rapids. Ford and his biological father had occasional contact until his father died in 1941.

On October 15, 1948, Ford married Elizabeth Bloomer (1918–2011) at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. Bloomer, who was born in Grand Rapids, had lived in New York City for several years. She worked as a fashion model for John Robert Powers and as a dancer in a group connected to the Martha Graham Dance Company. At the time of their engagement, Ford was running for his first term in the United States House of Representatives. They delayed their wedding until before the election because, as The New York Times reported in 1974, "Jerry Ford was running for Congress and was unsure how voters might feel about him marrying a divorced former dancer."

The couple had four children: Michael Gerald, born in 1950; John Gardner (known as Jack), born in 1952; Steven Meigs, born in 1956; and Susan Elizabeth, born in 1957.

Ford belonged to several civic and fraternal organizations, including the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), American Legion, AMVETS, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Sons of the Revolution, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Michigan.

Ford joined Freemasonry on September 30, 1949. In 1975, he said, "When I became a master mason—with my three younger brothers—I remembered how much my father valued that group. I did not expect to join the same group as the first president of the United States and 12 other presidents who were also members." Ford was made a 33rd-degree Scottish Rite Mason on September 26, 1962. In April 1975, he was elected Honorary Grand Master of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, a role he held until 1977. In 1977, during his presidency, Ford received the York Rite Masonry degrees (Chapter and Council) in a special ceremony in the Oval Office.

Ford was also a member of the Shriners and the Royal Order of Jesters, both of which are connected to Freemasonry.

Public image

Ford is the only person to serve as president without being elected as president or vice president. He was chosen to become vice president because of his well-known honesty and fairness. Martha Griffiths said, "During my time in the House, I never saw Mr. Ford make dishonest statements or mix true and false information. He always spoke clearly and never said unkind things."

According to the Gallup Organization, Ford had the fourth-highest approval rating among presidents when he took office. However, his popularity dropped quickly after he pardoned Nixon. His approval rating fell by 21 points, and by January 1975, more people disapproved of him than approved.

Although Ford had a successful career in sports and other areas, he became known as someone who seemed clumsy and simple. Henry Kissinger once said Ford was "as close to a normal person as we’ll ever see in that position." People often compared him to Nixon and saw him as someone from the Midwest who was honest and made fun of himself.

In 1975, Ford tripped while leaving Air Force One in Austria. This event was often shown on Saturday Night Live by Chevy Chase, which made people think of Ford as clumsy. In 1976, Ford bit into a tamale that still had its outer covering, which was considered a mistake. This event became a well-known example of how risky it is to eat while campaigning.

Ford was the focus of two television shows that centered on his wife: the Emmy-winning 1987 ABC movie The Betty Ford Story and the 2022 Showtime series The First Lady.

Honors

• Estonia: On January 7, 1997, Estonia honored someone with the highest rank of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana.
• In May 1970, Ford received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
• In 1974, Ford was given the highest honor by the Scout Association of Japan, the Golden Pheasant Award. In 1985, he received the Old Tom Morris Award, the highest award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. In 1992, the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation gave Ford the Lone Sailor Award for his naval and government service. In 1999, Ford was honored with a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Also in 1999, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bill Clinton. In 2001, Ford was presented with the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for pardoning Richard Nixon to end the pain caused by the Watergate scandal.

The following places and organizations are named after Ford:
• The Ford House Office Building in the U.S. Capitol Complex, which was previously called House Annex 2.
• Gerald R. Ford Freeway (Nebraska)
• Gerald R. Ford Freeway (Michigan)
• Gerald Ford Memorial Highway, which is part of I-70 in Eagle County, Colorado.
• Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
• Gerald R. Ford Institute of Public Policy at Albion College.
• USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), a ship in the U.S. Navy.
• Gerald R. Ford Middle School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• President Gerald R. Ford Park in Alexandria, Virginia, located in the neighborhood where Ford lived while serving as a Representative and Vice President.
• President Ford Field Service Council, part of the Boy Scouts of America. This council is where Ford earned his Eagle Scout rank. It serves 25 counties in Western and Northern Michigan, with its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.