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, following Spiro Agnew, who 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 remained in this role for nearly 25 years, with the last nine years as the House minority leader. During his time in the House, he worked on the Warren Commission, which investigated 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. After Nixon resigned in August 1974, Ford became president immediately.

During his presidency, the United States faced one of the worst economic periods in the 40 years since the Great Depression, with high inflation and a recession. Ford made a controversial decision by pardoning Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal. In foreign policy, Congress began to have more influence, and the president’s power was limited. Ford signed the Helsinki Accords, which helped improve relations during the Cold War. The fall of South Vietnam eight months into his presidency marked the end of 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, the Democratic candidate. Ford is the only person to serve as president without being elected to the presidency or vice presidency.

After leaving the presidency, Ford stayed involved in the Republican Party. However, his views on social issues often clashed with conservative members of the party in the 1990s and early 2000s. He also improved his relationship with Jimmy Carter after the 1976 election, and the two former presidents became close friends. Ford faced health problems and died in Rancho Mirage, California, in 2006. Surveys by historians and political scientists ranked Ford as a below-average president, but public opinion polls about his presidency were more positive.

Early life

Henry Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska. He lived at 3202 Woolworth Avenue with his parents, Dorothy Ayer Gardner and Leslie Lynch King Sr., who was a wool trader. His father’s father, Charles Henry King, was a banker and businessman, and his mother’s father, Levi Addison Gardner, was a politician and businessman in Illinois. Ford’s parents separated just 16 days after his birth. His mother, Dorothy, took him to live with her sister Tannisse and brother-in-law Clarence Haskins James at 410 N. Humphrey Ave. in Oak Park, Illinois. Later, she moved to her parents’ home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dorothy and Leslie King Sr. divorced in December 1913, and she gained legal responsibility for raising their son. Charles Henry King, Ford’s paternal grandfather, paid child support until shortly before his death in 1930.

Ford later said his biological father had a history of hitting his mother. In a biography, James M. Cannon wrote that Ford’s parents separated because, a few days after Ford’s birth, Leslie King threatened to harm his wife, Ford, and Ford’s nursemaid with a butcher knife. Ford later told close friends that his father hit his mother when she smiled at another man during their honeymoon.

After living with his grandparents for two and a half years, Dorothy Gardner married Gerald Rudolff Ford on February 1, 1917. Gerald worked as a salesman for a family-owned paint and varnish company. Though not officially adopted, Ford was called Gerald Rudolff Ford Jr. from that time. His name, including the spelling "Rudolph," was officially changed on December 3, 1935. He grew up 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 joined the Boy Scouts of America and earned the highest rank, Eagle Scout, in August 1927. He is the only Eagle Scout to later become president of the United States. He attended Grand Rapids South High School, where he was a top athlete and led the football team. In 1930, he was chosen for the All-City team of the Grand Rapids City League. His performance also caught 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 difficult season and won only one game. However, Ford remained the team's top player. During one game, Michigan held a strong opponent, Minnesota, 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 a tough situation, take action, and make every effort possible despite adverse odds." His teammates later voted Ford 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 controversy arose when Georgia Tech said it would not play a scheduled game with Michigan if a Black player named Willis Ward took the field. 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 roomed together during road trips. Ford reportedly threatened to quit the team in response to the university's decision but eventually agreed to play against Georgia Tech when Ward personally asked him to play.

In 1934, Ford was selected for the Eastern Team in the Shriners' East–West Shrine Game in San Francisco (a benefit for physically disabled children), which took place on January 1, 1935. As part of the 1935 Collegiate All-Star football team, Ford played against the Chicago Bears in the Chicago College All-Star Game at Soldier Field. In honor of his athletic accomplishments and later political career, the University of Michigan retired Ford's No. 48 jersey in 1994. With the blessing of the Ford family, it was placed back into 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 with 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 took a job in September 1935 as the boxing coach and assistant varsity football coach at Yale University and applied to its law school.

Ford hoped to attend Yale Law School beginning in 1935. Yale officials at first denied his admission because of his full-time coaching responsibilities. 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 also promoted to the position of junior varsity head football coach at Yale. While at Yale, Ford began working as a model. He initially worked with the John Robert Powers agency before investing in the Harry Conover agency, with whom he modeled until 1941.

While attending Yale Law School, Ford joined a group of students led by R. Douglas Stuart Jr. and signed a petition to enforce the 1939 Neutrality Act. The petition was circulated nationally and inspired the America First Committee, a group determined to keep the U.S. out of World War II. His introduction into 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 Grand Rapids law practice 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 elementary navigation, ordnance, gunnery, first aid, and military drill. He also coached all nine sports offered, 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 assigned in May 1943 to the pre-commissioning detachment 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. While aboard, the carrier took part in many 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 against Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. In 1944, the carrier 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, aircraft from 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 Third Fleet lost three destroyers and over 800 men during the typhoon. The Monterey suffered damage from a fire caused by aircraft tearing loose from their cables and colliding on the hangar deck. Ford, serving as General Quarters Officer of the Deck, was ordered to go below to assess the fire. He did so safely and reported his findings to Captain Stuart H. Ingersoll, the ship’s commanding officer. The crew contained the fire, and the ship resumed operations.

After the fire, the Monterey was declared unfit for service. Ford was separated from the ship and sent 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 was assigned to 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. His 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 at the time was an avowed, dedicated isolationist. I believed he should be replaced. Many people thought I couldn’t win, but I ended up winning two to one."

During his first campaign in 1948, Ford visited voters at their homes and at factories where they worked. He also visited local farms. In one instance, after winning an election, he agreed to a bet that required him to spend two weeks milking cows.

Ford served in the House of Representatives for 25 years, representing Michigan’s 5th congressional district from 1949 to 1973. His time in office was known for its modesty. A New York Times editorial described him as someone who saw himself as a negotiator and a reconciler. It noted that he did not write any major legislation during his career. Two years after his election, Ford was appointed to the United States House Committee on Appropriations, where he was a key member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Ford described his philosophy as being moderate in domestic affairs, an internationalist in foreign affairs, and a conservative in fiscal policy. He supported the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Colleagues in the House often called him a "Congressman’s Congressman."

In the early 1950s, Ford refused offers to run for the U.S. Senate or the Michigan governorship. Instead, he aimed to become Speaker of the House, which he called "the ultimate achievement." He wanted to lead the House and manage its work, which he described as the greatest legislative body in history.

On November 29, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Ford to the Warren Commission, a special group formed to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Ford was assigned to prepare a biography of Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin. He and Earl Warren also interviewed Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald. A 1963 FBI memo, released in 2008, noted that Ford communicated with the FBI about the commission’s activities. In 1965, Ford co-authored Portrait of the Assassin with John R. Stiles, a book that defended the Warren Report. In a 2007 book, A Presidential Legacy and The Warren Commission, Ford again supported the commission’s work and its conclusions.

In 1964, President Johnson won a large victory for his party, securing another term as president and gaining 36 House seats from Republicans. After the election, Republican leaders sought a new minority leader. Three members approached Ford, and after discussing the matter with his family, he agreed to run. In a close vote, Ford was chosen to replace Charles Halleck of Indiana as minority leader. The Republican leaders who supported Ford were later called the "Young Turks." One of these leaders was Congressman Donald H. Rumsfeld from Illinois’s 13th district, who later served in Ford’s administration as chief of staff and secretary of defense.

During the 1960s, the Johnson Administration proposed and passed programs known as the "Great Society." In the first session of the Eighty-ninth Congress alone, Johnson submitted 87 bills to Congress, and 84 were signed into law, 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 expressed concerns that the United States was not doing enough to win the war. Public opinion began to shift against Johnson, and the 1966 midterm elections resulted in 47 more Republican seats. Though this did not give Republicans a majority in the House, it 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 speech angered President Johnson, who accused Ford of "playing too much football without a helmet."

As minority leader, Ford participated in televised press conferences with Senator Everett Dirksen, where they proposed Republican alternatives to Johnson’s policies. The press jokingly called these events "The Ev and Jerry Show." Johnson once said, "Jerry Ford is so dumb he can’t fart and chew gum at the same time." The press later 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 for the bill, which passed with 223 votes in favor and 185 against.

During his eight years as minority leader from 1965 to 1973, Ford earned 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 then retire in 1976. However, on October 10, 1973, Spiro Agnew resigned as vice president. According to The New York Times, President Nixon asked senior leaders in Congress for advice on replacing Agnew. 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 nice conclusion" to his career. Ford was nominated to replace Agnew on October 12, the first time the rule about filling a vice-presidential vacancy in the 25th Amendment was used. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ford on November 27 by a vote of 92 to 3. The House confirmed Ford on December 6 by a vote of 387 to 35. After the House vote, Ford took the oath of office as vice president.

Ford became vice president during the Watergate scandal. On August 1, 1974, Chief of Staff Alexander Haig 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 residence 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 he said the evidence in there was devastating and there would probably be either an impeachment or a resignation. He said, 'I'm just warning you that you've got to be prepared, that things might change dramatically and you could become President.' And I said, 'Betty, I don't think we're ever going to 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 either the presidency or the vice presidency. Soon after, Ford gave a speech to the public, explaining how unusual his situation was. He later said, "our long national nightmare is over."

On August 20, 1974, Ford nominated former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to become vice president. Rockefeller’s main competitor for the position was George H. W. Bush. Before being confirmed, Rockefeller had long hearings with 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 nomination, most voted to confirm him. His nomination passed both the House and Senate. Some, like Barry Goldwater, voted against it.

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 had made a "corrupt bargain" with Nixon, meaning Ford’s pardon was in exchange for Nixon’s resignation. 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. Later, Ford said he pardoned Nixon mainly because of their friendship. Historians believe the pardon was a major reason Ford lost the 1976 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 Nixon as "my predecessor" or "the former president." When asked about this during a trip to California in 1974, White House correspondent Fred Barnes said Ford replied, "I just can't bring myself to do it."

After leaving the White House in January 1977, Ford privately justified the pardon by carrying a part of the text from Burdick v. United States, a 1915 Supreme Court decision. This decision stated that a pardon implies guilt and that accepting one 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 gave the award, said he had once opposed the pardon but later believed Ford made the right decision.

On September 16, 1974, Ford issued 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, people had to show they still supported the United States and agree to work in public service jobs or serve in the military for two years. A Clemency Board reviewed applications and recommended pardons. Full pardons for draft dodgers happened later during Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

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 person to serve in a presidential Cabinet and the first in a Republican administration.

In 1974, Ford chose George H. W. Bush as Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to the People’s Republic of China and later as 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 election.

The 1974 Congressional midterm elections happened after the Watergate scandal and less than three months after Ford became president. The Democratic Party gained many seats in the House, taking 49 from Republicans and increasing their majority to 291 out of 435 seats. This was enough 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. In the Senate, the Democratic majority grew to 61 out of 100 seats.

The economy was a major issue during Ford’s presidency. One of his first actions was creating the Economic Policy Board by Executive Order on September 30, 1974. In October 1974, Ford asked the public to "Whip Inflation Now" by reducing spending. He encouraged people to wear "WIN" buttons as part of the campaign. Ford believed controlling inflation would help reduce unemployment. He also proposed a one-year, five-percent income tax increase on corporations and wealthy individuals. At the time, inflation was over 12 percent.

The federal budget had 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 Ford's advance obituary, an article that would be updated before 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, "Calm and honest, 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 Jimmy Carter's presidency, Ford received monthly reports from Carter's senior staff on international and domestic issues and was always invited to lunch at the White House when in Washington, D.C. Their friendship grew stronger after Carter left office, especially after they traveled together to the funeral of Anwar el-Sadat in 1981. Until Ford's death, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, visited the Fords' home often. 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 time playing golf, often with comedian Bob Hope, a longtime friend. In 1977, Ford hit a hole in one during a Pro-am event at Colonial Country Club in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1977, Ford created 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 campus of his alma mater, the University of Michigan. In September 1981, he opened the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids.

Ford considered running for the Republican nomination in 1980 and avoided joining corporate boards to keep his options open for a rematch with Carter. He criticized Carter's handling of the SALT II negotiations and foreign policy in the Middle East and Africa. Some believed Ford wanted to change his image as an "accidental president" and win a term on his own. Ford also thought the more conservative Ronald Reagan might not defeat Carter and could give the incumbent a second term. Ford was encouraged by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and governors Jim Rhodes of Ohio and Bill Clements of Texas to run. On March 15, 1980, Ford announced he would not run for the Republican nomination and pledged 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 talks between Reagan and Ford's team failed. Ford would only accept the position if Reagan agreed to an unusual "co-presidency," giving Ford control over key executive branch appointments, such as naming Henry Kissinger as Secretary of State and Alan Greenspan as Treasury Secretary. Reagan rejected these terms and instead nominated George H. W. Bush as vice president. Ford appeared in a campaign ad 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 election could harm Reagan's 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 president's criticism of the Federal Reserve Board, saying Carter's actions were "cowardly" and aimed to protect his political position.

After 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's demands and to stick to his own economic plans 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 warned that stopping the Reagan administration's Saudi arms deal could harm U.S. relations in the Middle East.

On March 24, 1982, Ford supported Reagan's economic policies but noted that Reagan might face challenges in Congress if he did not compromise.

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

In August 1982, Ford opposed a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget, arguing that Congress should elect leaders who act responsibly in financial matters. Ford supported Republican candidates during the 1982 midterm elections, traveling to Tennessee in October of that year.

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

In 1987, Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Robert Bork, a judge nominated by Reagan to the Supreme Court. Bork's nomination was rejected by a vote of 58–42.

In 1987, Ford published a book titled Humor and the Presidency, which collected humorous political stories.

By 1988, Ford was on the boards of several companies, 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 celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower. The two unveiled a plaque with Eisenhower's signature.

Death and funeral

Gerald Ford passed away on December 26, 2006, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, due to diseases related to his blood vessels and heart. He had advanced coronary artery disease and severe problems with his heart valves, caused by the buildup of calcium. At the time of his death, Ford was the longest-lived U.S. president, having lived 93 years and 165 days. This surpassed the previous record held by Ronald Reagan. Ford died on the 34th anniversary of President Harry S. Truman’s death and 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 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 Boy Scouts participate in his funeral. Some Scouts helped as ushers inside the National Cathedral, and about 400 Eagle Scouts formed an honor guard during the funeral procession.

One of the songs chosen for the funeral procession was the University of Michigan fight song, which Ford loved and often played during his presidency. After his death in December 2006, the University of Michigan Marching Band played the song one final time as his casket was transported from Gerald R. Ford Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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

Personal life

Ford spoke about his stepfather and mother, saying, "My stepfather was a very impressive person, and my mother was equally wonderful. I could not have written a better description of a great family life."

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 until 1960, as they had never seen each other as children. He did not learn about his biological father until he was 17, when his parents explained the details of his birth. That year, his biological father, whom Ford described as "a man who was not concerned about his son’s future," approached him while he was working as a waiter in a restaurant in Grand Rapids. The two men had infrequent communication until Leslie King Sr. died in 1941.

On October 15, 1948, Ford married Elizabeth Bloomer (1918–2011) at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. Bloomer, who was originally from Grand Rapids, had lived in New York City for several years. There, she worked as a fashion model for John Robert Powers and as a dancer in the Martha Graham Dance Company’s auxiliary troupe. At the time of their engagement, Ford was running for his first term in the United States House of Representatives. They postponed their wedding until shortly before the election because, as The New York Times reported in a 1974 article about Betty Ford, "Jerry Ford was running for Congress and was unsure how voters would react to 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 was a member of 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 an alumnus of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Michigan.

Ford joined Freemasonry on September 30, 1949. In 1975, he said, "When I took my oath as a master mason—with my three younger brothers—I remembered how much my father valued that group. I did not know then that I would one day join the group that includes the Father of our Country and 12 other U.S. Presidents." Ford became a 33° 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 January 1977. Ford received the York Rite Masonry degrees (Chapter and Council) in a special ceremony in the Oval Office on January 11, 1977, during his presidency.

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 fill the empty vice presidency because of his well-known honesty and fairness. Martha Griffiths once said, "In all the years I knew Mr. Ford in the House, I never saw him tell a lie or make a partly true and partly false statement. He always spoke clearly, and I never heard him say anything unkind."

According to the Gallup Organization, Ford had the fourth-highest approval rating among presidents when he took office. However, his approval dropped quickly after he pardoned Nixon. This decision caused the public to lose trust in him, and his approval rating fell by 21 points. By January 1975, more people disliked Ford than liked him.

Although Ford had a strong athletic background and many notable achievements, he became known as a clumsy, friendly, and straightforward person. Henry Kissinger once said Ford was "as normal and relatable as possible" for someone in the presidency. His image as an ordinary person was also influenced by his comparison to Nixon, his Midwestern personality, and his tendency to make self-deprecating jokes.

In 1975, Ford tripped while leaving Air Force One in Austria. This event was often mimicked by Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live, which made people see Ford as clumsy. In April 1976, Ford bit into a tamale that still had its shell, which was considered a mistake in eating. This incident became widely known and added to the idea that Ford was often awkward in public situations. It also became a lesson about the risks of eating while campaigning.

Ford has been 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: Received the First Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana on January 7, 1997.
• Ford was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America in May 1970. He also received the Silver Buffalo Award from the same organization.
• 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, which is the highest recognition from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. In 1992, the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation honored Ford with the Lone Sailor Award for his naval and government service. In 1999, Ford was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. That same year, 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 help end the Watergate crisis.

The following places and organizations are named after Ford:
• The Ford House Office Building in the U.S. Capitol Complex, previously called House Annex 2.
• Gerald R. Ford Freeway in Nebraska.
• Gerald R. Ford Freeway in 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 naval ship.
• Gerald R. Ford Middle School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• President Gerald R. Ford Park in Alexandria, Virginia, located in the neighborhood where Ford lived during his time as a Representative and Vice President.
• President Ford Field Service Council, part of the Boy Scouts of America. This council is where Ford earned the rank of Eagle Scout. It serves 25 counties in Western and Northern Michigan, with its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.