[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 95 (Monday, July 12, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5481-H5483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING FORMER PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD ON HIS 91ST BIRTHDAY
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 702) honoring former President Gerald
R. Ford on the occasion of his 91st birthday and extending the best
wishes of the House of Representatives to former President Ford and his
family.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 702
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 House of Representatives 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
General Leave
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the
resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
It is certainly a true pleasure today to rise in support of House
Resolution 702. This is a resolution that wishes former President
Gerald R. Ford a wonderfully happy 91st birthday on behalf
[[Page H5482]]
of the House of Representatives. President Ford certainly holds a
unique place in American history. Within a 1-year period during the
very destructive Watergate scandal, he held the positions of House
minority leader, of Vice President, and President because he was such a
respected national leader of unquestioned integrity and principle.
Mr. Speaker, Gerald Rudolph Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on July
14, 1913; and then he moved to Grand Rapids in the great State of
Michigan shortly after his birth. He was always an exceptional student
and athlete and was very active in extracurricular activities, even
attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.
President Ford attended the University of Michigan to study economics
and political science; and as a member of the U of M's football team,
he won two national championships in 1932 and 1933. In 1934, he was
named the team's most valuable player.
Rejecting offers to play professional football with either the
Detroit Lions or the Green Bay Packers, Gerald Ford took a job at Yale
University as a boxing coach and an assistant football coach, and he
received his law degree then at Yale in 1941.
The war was on, and he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve during the war;
and then he returned to Grand Rapids after the war, in 1946, to work as
a lawyer. In 1948, he defeated the incumbent United States
Representative in that district in the primary election and then won
the general election by a very wide margin.
Mr. Speaker, Gerald Ford was a Member of this body from 1949 to 1973
and he served as House minority leader from 1965 to 1973.
{time} 1445
In the Congress, Ford was an ardent proponent of strong national
defense, and he realized the important role that the United States
played in the global theater.
In October of 1973, as the Watergate scandal gradually unfolded,
President Richard Nixon nominated Ford to succeed Spiro Agnew as Vice
President of the United States. Ford became Vice President on December
6, 1973, and, in doing so, he also became the first Vice President to
be appointed under the procedures of the 25th amendment.
Mr. Speaker, Gerald Ford's vice presidential tenure lasted less than
a year. When Nixon resigned due to continued revelations of Watergate,
Ford became President on August 9, 1974. In a move he deemed the best
for the sake of the Nation, he issued a complete pardon to Nixon in an
effort to end what he categorized as the Nation's long nightmare.
During his inauguration speech, President Carter paid immediate
tribute to President Ford's role in helping America through such a
difficult period saying, ``For myself and for our Nation, I want to
thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land.''
On April 20, 1995, President Ford's boyhood home in Grand Rapids was
designated as an historic site. I bring that up, Mr. Speaker, because
at the time I was the Michigan Secretary of State, and one of my duties
and responsibilities was serving as Michigan's official historian.
Certainly one of my fondest memories was hosting the President and
his wonderful wife, his very gracious wife, Betty Ford, for the home's
dedication. There was a huge crowd of family and friends and neighbors,
and the President was standing on the front porch of his home telling
everybody about some of his fond remembrances of living in that home in
Grand Rapids and how he used to play baseball out in front of the
house.
Gerald Ford is an extraordinary man and yet he grew up in an ordinary
neighborhood, just like thousands of other neighborhoods all across our
Nation. President Ford and his great accomplishments epitomize the
greatness the American spirit, and I was truly honored to stand next to
a living piece of American history that day.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from the great State
of Michigan, the dean of the House of Representatives, the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) for introducing this highly deserved
tribute to our 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford. Our
entire Nation thanks him for his service, and we wish him a very happy
91st birthday.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the
gentlewoman from Michigan in consideration of this resolution, and it
is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the author of this resolution and one of
the most distinguished and longest-serving Members of this body, the
dean of the institution and the ranking member of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I thank my distinguished friend and
colleague for yielding me time. I commend him for handling this
legislation, as I do the gentlewoman from Michigan, who has done such a
fine job of presenting the case for this legislation.
Today, we honor and congratulate a former President of the United
States on his 91st birthday, and we extend to him and to his wife the
best wishes of this body on this 91st birthday which he is celebrating
Wednesday.
We are proud of his service, not only in this body, but elsewhere. He
will be 91, as I mentioned, on July 14, which is Wednesday. He is
married to a distinguished lady, Elizabeth ``Betty'' Ford, who is much
loved in this body and much loved elsewhere.
He attended the University of Michigan, Yale University Law School,
served with distinction in the United States Navy in the Philippines
during World War II. He served in the House of Representatives for 25
years and was appointed to and served with distinction on the Warren
Commission by President Johnson.
He was minority leader of this body from 1965 to 1973 and Vice
President from 1973 through 1974. He was sworn in as President on
August 9, 1974, and served in this great capacity for 2 years.
The thing which I think we can best remember about Gerry Ford is not
all of the distinguished actions which he took or the high offices
which he held but, rather, the fact that in a very difficult time he
brought this country together out of a period of ill will and
misfortune, which I think is almost unique in the history of this
country. With that healing leadership, he will be long remembered for
what he has done for us. The University of Michigan School of Public
Policy is named after him, and he is much loved also in our State.
I want to commend and thank my colleagues who have joined in the
cosponsorship of this legislation: the gentlewoman from California
(Mrs. Bono), who is at this time his Congresswoman; the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra); the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick); the gentleman from Michigan
(Mr. Levin); the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller); the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Smith); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton); the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Ehlers); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee); the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter);
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers); and the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
We from the Michigan delegation have unanimously suggested that this
is a good resolution for this body to adopt. We celebrate the
accomplishments, the great humanity and decency of a wonderful citizen
of our State and of the United States who served with distinction in
the Presidency and in many other offices, and we do at this time wish
him, through this resolution and in other ways, the best wishes of this
body, of the House of Representatives and of all of us individually,
and those many other American citizens who have had fine reason to love
a great American who still serves his country with distinction.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly urge all Members to support the adoption of
House Resolution 772, that extends 91st birthday wishes to President
Gerald Ford.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
[[Page H5483]]
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues today to pay
tribute to former President Gerald Ford on the occasion of his 91st
birthday and to thank him for his service to our Nation. President Ford
assumed the office of President under difficult circumstances and
guided us with strength and steadiness that helped us to regain
confidence that we had lost in our Nation's most important office.
Looking back on President Ford's life, it is easy to see that he
would distinguish himself as a leader. At the University of Michigan,
he excelled both at his studies and at football. He received a law
degree from Yale University. When duty called, he enlisted in the Navy,
where he earned the rank of lieutenant commander during World War II.
Following the war, President Ford returned to his home State of
Michigan and was elected to the House of Representatives for his first
of 13 terms. An innate ability to lead helped President Ford rise
quickly through the ranks of Congress. He was soon assigned to the
influential Committee on Appropriations and rose to became the ranking
Republican on the Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on
Appropriations.
In 1972, Gerald Ford was nominated as Vice President. He became
President in 1974, following the resignation of President Richard
Nixon. Faced with many challenges when he took office, President Ford
worked to repair the damaged relationship between the American people
and its government and the image of America with the rest of the world.
Two of his historic accomplishments were bringing an end to the
Vietnam War and facilitating improved relations between Egypt and
Israel. Improved relations between Israel and Egypt would lead to a
peace pact between the two rival nations, an unprecedented step towards
peace in the region.
On his inauguration day President Jimmy Carter began his speech by
saying, ``For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor
for all he has done to heal our land.''
While we all may not agree with all of the decisions President Ford
made during his political career, we can all concur that he carried
himself with dignity at a time when our Nation needed it most.
Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank President Ford for his service. I
commend the gentleman from Michigan for introducing this resolution.
Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who holds a
distinguished record of life-long public service to the United States.
President Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States,
celebrates his 91st birthday today. Since 1913, President Ford has been
a diligent, humble steward of public service to our great country. He
is a role model for all of us involved with public office, and I am
fortunate to also call him a dear friend and constituent. It is with
great pleasure that I congratulate President Ford, and extend best
wishes to his family on this day of celebration.
President Ford's public service began in high school, where he
achieved the honor of Eagle Scout. He later earned ten battle stars as
lieutenant commander in the Navy, served the State of Michigan in
Congress for 12 terms, eventually served as House Minority Leader in
1965, and finally, he served our country as the 38th President. As
President, he lead America through the weakest economy of the post-
World War II period, confronting tough issues as rising levels of both
inflation and unemployment.
After completing his term as President, he returned to Rancho
Mirage--a region of southern California that I have the privilege of
representing. Now, even at the age of 91, he continues to invest time,
energy, and experience into improving our community. His investments in
the Rancho Mirage region helped to spark unprecedented levels of
economic growth that began in 1983 and continue today. His commitments
include support for the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, the Living
Desert and Desert Museum, and the Eisenhower Medical Center and the
Betty Ford Center.
In 1997, Ford joined Gen. Colin Powell in Philadelphia for the
formation of America's Promise. In my district, he brought the goals of
helping young people to fruition by chairing an America's Promise
chapter in the Coachella Valley.
President Bill Clinton presented Ford with the Medal of Freedom in
1999, recognizing his role in guiding the nation through the turbulent
times of Watergate, the Nixon resignation and the end of the Vietnam
war. Also in 1999, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor for,
``dedicated public service and outstanding humanitarian
contributions.''
In my district, President Ford is heralded as a man who consistently
puts country over political party. He is a respected and honored
leader, who tirelessly and passionately fights for principles of
freedom, hope, and justice. On a personal note, President Ford has
provided me with advice and inspiration to better serve the people of
the 45th District of California.
Ford and his wife, Betty, continue to support numerous local and
national charities and service projects. Despite Ford's long list of
honors, his humble spirit remains as a shining example to us all. When
asked about his and Betty's unrelenting investment of public service,
he simply responded: ``We're trying to do our full share.'' After
decades of compassionate leadership, President Ford remains a trusted,
proven leader, who views giving back to the community as a civic
responsibility of all Americans, not just the task of elected
officials.
On behalf of my constituents, the people of California, and the
people of America, I am pleased to honor a man who has dedicated a
lifetime to public service on this very special day. Happy 91st
Birthday, President Gerald Ford. You are a continuous inspiration,
admired leader, and valued friend.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, happy birthday to a great
American, President Gerald R. Ford.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 702.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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