[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 409 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 409

  Celebrating the life of President Gerald R. Ford on what would have 
                        been his 96th birthday.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2009

 Mr. Ehlers submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Celebrating the life of President Gerald R. Ford on what would have 
                        been his 96th birthday.

Whereas Gerald Rudolph Ford was born on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was educated in Michigan public schools, and graduated 
        from the University of Michigan in 1935 with a bachelor of arts degree 
        in economics and political science;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was a gifted athlete, playing on the University of 
        Michigan's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933, and 
        being voted the team's most valuable player in 1934;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford graduated from Yale Law School in 1941 in the top 25 
        percent of his class;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford joined the United States Naval Reserves in 1942 and 
        served valiantly on the U.S.S. Monterey in the South Pacific Theater in 
        World War II;
Whereas Lieutenant Commander Gerald R. Ford was honorably released from active 
        duty in February 1946, having been awarded an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign 
        Medal with one silver star and four bronze stars, a Philippine 
        Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars, an American Campaign Medal, and 
        a World War II Victory Medal;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford and Elizabeth (``Betty'') Anne Bloomer were married on 
        October 15, 1948, and celebrated 58 years together;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford have four children, Michael, Jack, Steven, 
        and Susan, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was elected to Congress in 1948, and served 13 honorable 
        terms of office from January 3, 1949 to December 6, 1973;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford's contributions to the Foreign Operations and Defense 
        Subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives earned him a reputation as a ``Congressman's 
        Congressman'';
Whereas Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Gerald R. Ford to the Warren Commission to 
        investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford served as minority leader of the House of Representatives 
        from 1965 to 1973;
Whereas upon the resignation of Spiro Agnew and following confirmation by the 
        Congress, Gerald R. Ford was appointed by President Richard M. Nixon as 
        Vice President of the United States, and was sworn in on December 6, 
        1973;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford became the 38th President of the United States on August 
        9, 1974, and served until January 20, 1977, taking office at a dark hour 
        in the history of the United States, and, through his wisdom, courage, 
        and integrity, promptly restored the confidence of the people of the 
        United States in the Presidency;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford is the only person from the State of Michigan to have 
        served as President of the United States;
Whereas the Presidency of Gerald R. Ford is remembered for restoring trust and 
        openness to the presidency and the Federal Government;
Whereas President Gerald R. Ford followed a steady and sensible course to cope 
        with the Nation's economic problems and, during his administration, 
        halted double-digit inflation and lowered unemployment;
Whereas President Gerald R. Ford solidified President Nixon's accomplishments in 
        China, brought representatives of Israel and Egypt to the conference 
        table to establish a framework for a lasting peace, and provided 
        developmental assistance to underdeveloped countries;
Whereas in 1975, under Gerald R. Ford's leadership, 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 codified fundamental human rights and 
        freedoms, and in so doing set about a course of events that ultimately 
        led to the demise of the Soviet Union;
Whereas in 1981, Gerald R. Ford saw the dedication of the Gerald R. Ford 
        Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the Gerald R. Ford 
        Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999, the 
        Nation's highest civilian award, for his role in guiding the Nation 
        through the turbulent times of the Watergate scandal, the resignation of 
        President Nixon, and the end of the Vietnam War, and for restoring 
        integrity and public trust to the Presidency;
Whereas Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford were together awarded the Congressional 
        Gold Medal in 1999 in recognition of their dedicated public service and 
        outstanding humanitarian contributions to the people of the United 
        States;
Whereas upon leaving the Presidency, Gerald R. Ford was 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 chose Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the home of his 
        Presidential Museum and his final resting place; and
Whereas Gerald R. Ford's life was characterized by honesty, integrity, and 
        dedication of purpose: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) celebrates the extraordinary life of Gerald Rudolph 
        Ford, and expresses its deepest appreciation for his profound 
        public service;
            (2) recognizes the significance of Gerald R. Ford's 
        Presidency, and his legacy of substantial contribution to the 
        United States and to the peoples of the world;
            (3) recognizes the significance and loving support of Betty 
        Ford as his confidant and First Lady; and
            (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
        transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of President 
        Gerald R. Ford, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, and the 
        Gerald R. Ford Library at the University of Michigan.
                                 <all>