Gerald Ford By Sarah Scherff
Childhood/Education Born July 14, 1913 Born July 14, 1913 Name Leslie King Jr., but mother divorced and remarried Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. Name Leslie King Jr., but mother divorced and remarried Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. Live in Grand Rapids until High School Live in Grand Rapids until High School Played Football – Center at U of M Played Football – Center at U of M Received Scholarship to University of Michigan Received Scholarship to University of Michigan Studied Liberal Arts Studied Liberal Arts Went to Yale and was an assistant coach Went to Yale and was an assistant coach Graduated top third of class Graduated top third of class Didn’t see a future in football Didn’t see a future in football Went into the military Went into the military
Family/Social Life Met Nixon in the Chowder and Marching Club Met Nixon in the Chowder and Marching Club Became good friends Became good friends First to support Eisenhower and Nixon’s running mate First to support Eisenhower and Nixon’s running mate 1948 Married Elizabeth Anne Bloomer 1948 Married Elizabeth Anne Bloomer Had four children Michael Gerald, John Gardner, Steven Meigs, and Susan Elizabeth. Had four children Michael Gerald, John Gardner, Steven Meigs, and Susan Elizabeth. Betty had no fear of showing the public, which helped Ford politically Betty had no fear of showing the public, which helped Ford politically She had breast cancer and was an alcoholic She had breast cancer and was an alcoholic He went on trips to Colorado with his children He went on trips to Colorado with his children Also challenged staff members to tennis matches Also challenged staff members to tennis matches
Professional Life After college, returned to Grand Rapids to become a lawyer After college, returned to Grand Rapids to become a lawyer Went into the navy and served on the Monterey Went into the navy and served on the Monterey 1946 he left the military as a lieutenant and with ten stars 1946 he left the military as a lieutenant and with ten stars He went back to being a lawyer after the war He went back to being a lawyer after the war
Political Life/ Presidency In 1948, elected to the House In 1948, elected to the House Served 13 terms Served 13 terms A hawk in Vietnam A hawk in Vietnam on committee that investigated Kennedy’s assassination on committee that investigated Kennedy’s assassination Oct. 1973, Nixon nominated him for VP Oct. 1973, Nixon nominated him for VP After Nixon resigned became president (first to not have a national election) After Nixon resigned became president (first to not have a national election) Made democrats happy after wanting an open relationship Made democrats happy after wanting an open relationship Didn’t believe Nixon was involved and pardoned him in 1974 Didn’t believe Nixon was involved and pardoned him in 1974 Prevented war in the Middle East Prevented war in the Middle East
Post Presidency He lost to Carter but it was a close race 1976 Bob Dole was his running mate Served as an elder statesmen Wrote an autobiographical book Time to Heal Currently on the board of several major corporations Lives on Palm Springs
Bibliography “FORD, Gerald Rudolph, Jr., 1913-”. =F September 2003 “FORD, Gerald Rudolph, Jr., 1913-”. =F September =F =F “Gerald R. Ford” September “Gerald R. Ford” September “Gerald R. Ford (1913-) Biography” September 2003 “Gerald R. Ford (1913-) Biography” September “Gerald Rudolph Ford” September “Gerald Rudolph Ford” September
The End Thank You