Gerald Ford

Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. (born July 14, 1913) (born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., renamed after his mother's remarriage) was the fortieth (1973–1974) Vice President and the thirty-eighth (1974–1977) President of the United States. He remains the only individual to serve as President without ever having been elected to either the presidency or vice presidency. Instead, following the resignation of Spiro Agnew in 1973, he was nominated as Vice President by Richard Nixon and approved by both houses of Congress (not just the Senate, as is the procedure for Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and most other federal officials), in keeping with provisions of the 25th Amendment. When Nixon resigned on noon of August 9, 1974, Ford assumed the presidency.

Honors

Ford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 1999 for his efforts to heal the nation after the Watergate scandal.

Related Topics:
Presidential Medal of Freedom - Bill Clinton - 1999 - Watergate scandal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan was named after him in December 1999.

Related Topics:
Gerald R. Ford International Airport - Grand Rapids - Michigan - 1999

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2001 Ford was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, a presigious award given by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation for political courage. Ford was cited for his "controversial decision of conscience to pardon former President Richard M. Nixon," and leading the country through the tumultuous times of the late 1970s.

Related Topics:
2001 - John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award - John F. Kennedy Library Foundation - 1970s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On November 22, 2004, New York Republican Governor George Pataki named Ford and the other living former presidents (Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton) as honorary members of the board rebuilding the World Trade Center.

Related Topics:
November 22 - 2004 - George Pataki - Jimmy Carter - George H. W. Bush - Bill Clinton - World Trade Center

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~