Gerald R. Ford: A Presidential Unit
Gerald Rudolph Ford was the 38th President of the United States of America. He was born on 14 July 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. Ford was the only President not elected to office even as Vice-President. He had been chosen to fill the post of Vice-President left vacant by the resigning Sprio Agnew in 1973. His Vice-President was not elected either.
Political Party: Republican
Years Served: 1974 - 1977
Vice President(s): Nelson A. Rockefeller
Name of his parents: Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy Ayer Gardner King Ford
Wife's name: Elizabeth "Betty" Bloomer
Yearly Salary as President: $200,000/year + $50,000 expense account
State of Birth: Nebraska
"Gerald Ford, so far, is the only President to be adopted. Born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., his parents divorced when he was two years old. He took the name of his mother's second husband when he was adopted.
Ford was a star athlete. He played football for the University of Michigan and received offers to play ball professionally. He turned the offers down because he wanted to be a lawyer.
After entering politics, Ford was an honest and easy-going Congressman for 30 years. He was widely admired and trusted. He eventually became Vice-President to Nixon, and then President after Nixon's resignation.
Ford's honesty and good-natured was much appreciated after the scandal of the Nixon era. But two major factors prevented him from being elected to serve a second term. First, four weeks into office he made an unpopular move by pardoning Nixon of any crimes. Second, the economy was very bad.
On Line Lesson Plans:
Ford from TeacherVision
Ford
Presidential Thinkquest
Coloring Pages, Crafts, and Fun Activities:
Presidential Finger Puppets
Annie's Page
Herbert Hoover from Enchanted Learning
On Line Resources:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gf38.html
http://www.ford.utexas.edu/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gf38.html
http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/bios/38pford.html
http://www.americanpresident.org/KoTrain/Courses/GF/GF_In_Brief.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/essays/ford.html
http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=37
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/gf38/
Trivia Questions:
1. What were the names of the Ford's children? [Answer: Michael Gerald Ford (1950- ); John Gardner Ford (1952- ); Steven Meigs Ford (1956- ); Susan Elizabeth Ford (1957- )]
2. What other political positions did Ford hold? [Answer: Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1949-73; Vice President, 1973-74 (under Nixon) ].
3. What was the name that Ford was born with? [Answer: Leslie Lynch King Jr.]
Of Note:
Ford loved to play golf, but everybody has to be careful when he is playing. Several times he has conked people on the head with his wild shots.
Elizabeth "Betty" Bloomer Ford was a professional dancer and model before becoming the First Lady.
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