Gerald Ford
Best known as: 38th president of the USA
Occupation: Politician, lawyer
Birth name: Leslie Lynch King, Jr.
Nicknames: Gerry or Jerry
Nationality: American
Religion: Episcopalian
Political party: Republican
Born: July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska
Died: December 26, 2006 at Rancho Mirage, California
Education: University of Michigan, Yale Law School
Military service: Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, 1942-1946
Offices held:
- Member of House of Representatives from Michigan (1949-1973)
- Vice President of the U.S. (1973-1974)
- President of the U.S. (1974-1977)
Short biography:
Ford became president when Richard Nixon resigned because of the Watergate scandal, and one of his first acts in office was to pardon the former president of all wrongdoing in the scandal. Although this outraged many people, Ford helped to restore the public's faith in the U.S. presidency. During his term in office, he signed the Helsinki accords, which helped to ease the Cold War. Additionally, the country experienced inflation and a recession. Ford ran for re-election in 1976 but was defeated by Jimmy Carter.
Wife: Betty Ford
Friends: Richard Nixon
Vice president: Nelson Rockefeller
Parents: Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy King Ford (she divorced him and remarried Gerald Ford, Sr.)
