author
Gerald R. Ford
1913–2006
A steady, plainspoken leader in a turbulent moment, he became the only U.S. president never elected to either the presidency or the vice presidency. Before the White House, he was a star college football player, a Navy officer in World War II, and a longtime congressman from Michigan.
1 Audiobook
State of the Union Addresses
by Gerald R. Ford
About the author
Born in Omaha in 1913 and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he grew up as Leslie Lynch King Jr. before taking the name Gerald R. Ford Jr. He attended the University of Michigan, where he played on two national championship football teams, then later served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Ford went on to Yale Law School and then to Congress, representing Michigan for 25 years. He rose to become House minority leader, and in 1973 he was appointed vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned.
When Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Ford became the 38th president of the United States. His time in office is often remembered for its emphasis on restoring public trust after Watergate, as well as for the controversial pardon he granted Nixon. After leaving office, he remained an important public figure until his death in California in 2006.