Biography of the President

GERALD R. FORD, 38th President of the United States, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, July 14, 1913. He attended public schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan; received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1935; and an LL.B. from Yale University Law School in 1941.

In 1942 he entered the U.S. Navy, serving almost four years during World War II and participated in 3rd and 5th carrier operations aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Monterey for two years. He was discharged in 1946 as a Lt.Commander and resumed the practice of law.

President Ford was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948 and reelected every two years through 1972, serving 25 years in the House. He was elected Chairman of the Republican Conference in 1963, and chosen Minority Leader in 1965, a position he held in the 89th, 90th and lst Session of the 93rd Congresses. He also was permanent chairman of the 1968 and 1972 Republican National Conventions.

In November 1963, he was made a member of the Presidential Commission investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and authored (with the late John R. Stiles) the book, Portrait of the Assassin (1965).

President Ford was nominated Vice President on October 12, 1973, to succeed Spiro T. Agnew, who resigned, and was confirmed December 6. He succeeded to the Presidency August 9, 1974, following the resignation of Richard Nixon.

President Ford is the recipient of the following awards:

• American Political Science Association's Distinguished Congressional Service Award, 1961.
• American Good Government Society's George Washington Award, 1966.
• American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award as "Giant of Accomplishment", 1971.
• AMVETS Silver Helmet Award, 1971.
• Boy Scouts of America "Silver Buffalo Award" for distinguished service to our country and its youth, 1975.

The President and Mrs. Ford are active members of the Episcopal church.

He has received Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from:

• University of Pennsylvania
• Notre Dame University
• Ohio State University
• University of Michigan
• Michigan State University
• Western Michigan University
• The Citadel
• (and numerous colleges).

President Ford received all-city and all-state football honors in Grand Rapids during high school, and he was a member of the University of Michigan's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933. In 1934 he was named the University of Michigan's most valuable player. He served as assistant varsity football coach at Yale while a law student there.

He married Elizabeth Bloomer on October 15, 1948, and they are the parents of four children:

• Michael Gerald - Born March 14, 1950
• John Gardner - Born March 16, 1952
• Steven Meigs - Born May 19, 1956
• Susan Elizabeth - Born July 6, 1957.

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