[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 405 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 405

 Honoring former President Gerald R. Ford on the occasion of his 91st 
    birthday and extending the best wishes of the Senate to former 
                     President Ford and his family.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 14, 2004

  Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Hatch) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring former President Gerald R. Ford on the occasion of his 91st 
    birthday and extending the best wishes of the Senate to former 
                     President Ford and his family.

Whereas Gerald Rudolph Ford was born on July 14, 1913;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford is the only person from the State of Michigan to have 
        served as President of the United States;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford graduated from the University of Michigan where he was a 
        star center on the football team and later turned down offers to play in 
        the National Football League;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford attended Yale University Law School and graduated in the 
        top 25 percent of his class while also working as a football coach;
Whereas in 1942, Gerald R. Ford joined the United States Navy Reserves and 
        served valiantly on the U.S.S. Monterey in the Philippines during World 
        War II, surviving a heavy storm during which he came within inches of 
        being swept overboard;
Whereas the U.S.S. Monterey earned 10 battle stars, awarded for participation in 
        battle, while Gerald R. Ford served on the ship;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was released to inactive duty in 1946 with the rank of 
        Lieutenant Commander;
Whereas in 1948, Gerald R. Ford was elected to the House of Representatives 
        where he served with integrity for 25 years;
Whereas in 1963, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Gerald R. Ford to the Warren 
        Commission investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy;
Whereas from 1965 to 1973, Gerald R. Ford served as minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives;
Whereas from 1974 to 1976, Gerald R. Ford served as the 38th President of the 
        United States, taking office at a dark hour in the history of the United 
        States and restoring the faith of the people of the United States in the 
        Presidency through his wisdom, courage, and integrity;
Whereas in 1975, the United States signed the Final Act of the Conference on 
        Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly known as the ``Helsinki 
        Agreement'', which ratified post-World War II European borders and 
        supported human rights;
Whereas since leaving the Presidency, Gerald R. Ford has been an international 
        ambassador of American goodwill, a noted scholar and lecturer, and a 
        strong supporter of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the 
        University of Michigan, which was named for the former President in 
        1999;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999; and
Whereas on July 14, 2004, Gerald R. Ford will celebrate his 91st birthday: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate honors former President Gerald R. Ford on 
the occasion of his 91st birthday and extends its congratulations and 
best wishes to former President Ford and his family.
                                 <all>