Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
President Ford dies in Rancho Mirage
RANCHO MIRAGE — Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States, died at 6:45 Tuesday in his Rancho Mirage home. He was 93 years old.
His wife, Betty Ford, released a statement from her Rancho Mirage office announcing his death: “My family joins me in informing you that Gerald R. Ford — our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather — has passed away at 93 years of age. His was a life full of love for God, family, and country.”
A memorial Web site was launched Tuesday afternoon at www.geraldfordmemorial.com. Information provided through this site includes how to send a message of condolence to the Ford family.
In October 1973 Mr. Ford was appointed vice president of the United States, replacing Spiro Agnew, who left the office in disgrace having pleaded no contest to tax evasion.
The next year, Richard Nixon became the first United States president ever to resign, and Ford took the oath of office.
Mr. Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. in Omaha, Neb., in 1913.
According to information from his presidential library, Mr. Ford’s parents separated soon after his birth. His mother, Dorothy Ayer Gardner King, remarried Gerald R. Ford, a paint salesman, and her son’s name was changed to Gerald R. Ford Jr.
“He (Gerald R. Ford Sr.) and Mother had three rules: tell the truth, work hard and come to dinner on time — and woe unto any of us who violated those rules,” Mr. Ford wrote in his 1979 memoir, “A Time to Heal.”
Mr. Ford grew up in Michigan and was a star on the University of Michigan’s national-championship football team. The Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers both offered him positions, but instead he took a coaching job at Yale, where he hoped to be admitted to law school. The school accepted him in 1938.
He earned a law degree in Yale, graduating in the top 25 percent of his class, and started a law practice with a former fraternity brother.
When the United States entered World War II, Mr. Ford joined the U.S. Naval Reserves. During World War II. He was assigned to the USS Monterey, which took part in the fighting in the South Pacific.
After the war, Mr. Ford returned to the legal profession in Grand Rapids, where he also returned to his interest in Republican politics. Before the war, he was an isolationist, but he later said his experiences World War II prompted him to reject that point of view to become an internationalist, a perspective he held throughout his presidency.
He was first elected as a Republican member of the House of Representatives in 1948 with 61 percent of the vote.
The same year, Mr. Ford married Elizabeth “Betty” (Bloomer) Ford. They would have four children together: Michael, John, Steven and Susan.
After 12 reelections to the House, Mr. Ford became a leader in the legislature and the party. He also served on the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Before Tuesday, Mr. Ford was the last living member of the Warren Commission.
When Agnew resigned in 1973, Nixon chose his longtime colleague and friend, and a man known to be honest and ethical, Mr. Ford as the new vice president.
After what his library calls “the most thorough background investigation in the history of the FBI,” Mr. Ford was sworn in to the office.
Over the next nine months, the Watergate scandal and the administration’s cover-up took its toll on Nixon’s presidency. Facing impeachment, Nixon resigned, making Mr. Ford the 38th president of the United States.
He took the oath of office on Aug. 9, 1974, and told the country, “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”
Shortly after taking office, he pardoned Nixon from any criminal charges.
In the 1976 presidential primary, Mr. Ford triumphed over Ronald Reagan to receive the Republican nomination. His running mate was Senator Robert Dole.
In the final election, he lost a close race to Democrat Jimmy Carter.
Mr. Ford would later serve with Carter as co-chair of the National Commission on Federal Election Reform in 2001. The two also co-wrote an opinion piece, “A Time To Heal Our Nation,” about Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998.
After his presidency, Mr. and Mrs. Ford built a home in Rancho Mirage which would become their main residency. He was a staunch supporter of the Boy Scouts, the Betty Ford Center and many other charities.
In 1999 Clinton awarded him the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, in recognition of his leadership after Watergate and the through the end of the Vietnam War.
His wife, Betty Ford, released a statement from her Rancho Mirage office announcing his death: “My family joins me in informing you that Gerald R. Ford — our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather — has passed away at 93 years of age. His was a life full of love for God, family, and country.”
A memorial Web site was launched Tuesday afternoon at www.geraldfordmemorial.com. Information provided through this site includes how to send a message of condolence to the Ford family.
In October 1973 Mr. Ford was appointed vice president of the United States, replacing Spiro Agnew, who left the office in disgrace having pleaded no contest to tax evasion.
The next year, Richard Nixon became the first United States president ever to resign, and Ford took the oath of office.
Mr. Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. in Omaha, Neb., in 1913.
According to information from his presidential library, Mr. Ford’s parents separated soon after his birth. His mother, Dorothy Ayer Gardner King, remarried Gerald R. Ford, a paint salesman, and her son’s name was changed to Gerald R. Ford Jr.
“He (Gerald R. Ford Sr.) and Mother had three rules: tell the truth, work hard and come to dinner on time — and woe unto any of us who violated those rules,” Mr. Ford wrote in his 1979 memoir, “A Time to Heal.”
Mr. Ford grew up in Michigan and was a star on the University of Michigan’s national-championship football team. The Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers both offered him positions, but instead he took a coaching job at Yale, where he hoped to be admitted to law school. The school accepted him in 1938.
He earned a law degree in Yale, graduating in the top 25 percent of his class, and started a law practice with a former fraternity brother.
When the United States entered World War II, Mr. Ford joined the U.S. Naval Reserves. During World War II. He was assigned to the USS Monterey, which took part in the fighting in the South Pacific.
After the war, Mr. Ford returned to the legal profession in Grand Rapids, where he also returned to his interest in Republican politics. Before the war, he was an isolationist, but he later said his experiences World War II prompted him to reject that point of view to become an internationalist, a perspective he held throughout his presidency.
He was first elected as a Republican member of the House of Representatives in 1948 with 61 percent of the vote.
The same year, Mr. Ford married Elizabeth “Betty” (Bloomer) Ford. They would have four children together: Michael, John, Steven and Susan.
After 12 reelections to the House, Mr. Ford became a leader in the legislature and the party. He also served on the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Before Tuesday, Mr. Ford was the last living member of the Warren Commission.
When Agnew resigned in 1973, Nixon chose his longtime colleague and friend, and a man known to be honest and ethical, Mr. Ford as the new vice president.
After what his library calls “the most thorough background investigation in the history of the FBI,” Mr. Ford was sworn in to the office.
Over the next nine months, the Watergate scandal and the administration’s cover-up took its toll on Nixon’s presidency. Facing impeachment, Nixon resigned, making Mr. Ford the 38th president of the United States.
He took the oath of office on Aug. 9, 1974, and told the country, “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”
Shortly after taking office, he pardoned Nixon from any criminal charges.
In the 1976 presidential primary, Mr. Ford triumphed over Ronald Reagan to receive the Republican nomination. His running mate was Senator Robert Dole.
In the final election, he lost a close race to Democrat Jimmy Carter.
Mr. Ford would later serve with Carter as co-chair of the National Commission on Federal Election Reform in 2001. The two also co-wrote an opinion piece, “A Time To Heal Our Nation,” about Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998.
After his presidency, Mr. and Mrs. Ford built a home in Rancho Mirage which would become their main residency. He was a staunch supporter of the Boy Scouts, the Betty Ford Center and many other charities.
In 1999 Clinton awarded him the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, in recognition of his leadership after Watergate and the through the end of the Vietnam War.
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of hidesertstar.com.
mandybug wrote on Feb 9, 2009 1:00 PM:
" Sylvia was a very loved friend of mine. I was so blessed to know her in the little amount of time she had. I spent a lot of days at her home with her, and she spent many nights sleeping over at my house. I love looking through my pictures of her. She will forever be missed... "
You must register with a valid email to gain access to this site feature.
Already a Member?Login Here:
|
Become a Registered MemberFill out the form below.
|
RSS
simplybohemian wrote on Jan 26, 2009 10:09 AM:
Shalow was heavily involved.
I hope Her family will find the peace they deserve. "