Bottom Of The Barrel

Gerald R. Ford - Our 38th President

I'm sure you know that President Ford was the first [and only] President/Vice President to serve without being elected. He was appointed the position of Vice President, via the 25th Amendment, and later became President when Nixon resigned. You probably also know that Ford later gave "a full, free and absolute pardon "for all of Nixon's "offenses against the United States" during the period of his presidency. But did you know:

• Born Leslie Lynch King, Jr. and his named was changed to Ford when his mother remarried when he was 1 year old. [He later changed the spelling of his middle name from Rudolff to Rudolph].


• The only President whose parents are divorced.


• A college football star [Center - University of Michigan undefeated seasons in 1932 and 1933] and turned down pro football offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers to go to law school.


• Graduated Yale Law in 1941 and pass the Michigan Bar shortly after, however instead of practicing law he was greatly effected by the attacks on Peal Harbor and...


• Enlisted into the US Navy and served from 1942 to 1946 and as a reserve until 1963.


• For his Naval Service in the World War II, received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with nine engagement stars, Philippine Liberation with two bronze stars and the American Campaign and World War II Victory Medals.


• Ford faced two assassination attempts during his presidency, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme on September 5, 1975 and Sara Jane Moore just 17 days later. The two attempts were not related.


• Administration saw the withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam and the execution of the Helsinki Accords


• The longest-lived United States president, having surpassed Ronald Reagan's record on November 12, 2006 and the last surviving member of the Warren Commission.


• Died on the 34th anniversary of the death of another U.S. President, Harry S. Truman.

Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. (July 14, 1913–December 26, 2006) may he rest in peace.

Labels: Ford, RIP

posted by TheWino @ 9:04 AM