[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6726]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 FORD ADMINISTRATION'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, this year marks the 40th anniversary of 
Gerald R. Ford taking the oath of office and becoming the 38th 
President of the United States. The Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand 
Rapids, MI will be commemorating this significant anniversary 
throughout 2014 by highlighting the impact of his service to our 
country.
  Gerald Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, in the 
aftermath of the Watergate scandal, the Vietnam war, and President 
Nixon's resignation, a very tumultuous time in our Nation's history. He 
reflected this when he stated:

       I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances . 
     . . . This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and 
     hurts our hearts.

  Although he was born in Omaha, NE, his family made Grand Rapids, MI, 
their home very soon after his birth. After high school, he attended 
the University of Michigan and played football for the Wolverines, 
earning the designation of Most Valuable Player. Choosing to attend law 
school instead of pursuing a professional football career, he completed 
his law degree at Yale University and then returned to Michigan, where 
he started a law practice.
  After serving with the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to 
his home State where he became a partner in a Grand Rapids law firm and 
involved in the political scene. His experiences in the war led him to 
reject his previously isolationist leanings and adopt an outlook of 
internationalism. As a result, at the age of 35, he challenged the 
isolationist incumbent for Michigan's Fifth Congressional District in 
Congress and won.
  He served his district, our State, and the Nation honorably. He was 
reelected 12 times, each with more than 60 percent of the vote. As a 
new Congressman, he quickly established a reputation for personal 
integrity, hard work, and the ability to deal effectively with both 
Republicans and Democrats, qualities that would define his entire 
political career. During his time in Congress, he was appointed to the 
Appropriations Committee and rose to prominence on the Defense 
Appropriations Subcommittee. He was well respected by his colleagues 
and was a leader in the Republican Party, serving as the minority 
leader for 8 years.
  After the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew, Ford was 
nominated by President Nixon and confirmed by Congress to fill the 
vacancy. Less than a year later, Nixon resigned and Ford became 
President, making him the first President who was not elected to either 
the Presidency or Vice Presidency.
  As President, Gerald Ford was confronted with the challenges of 
dealing with inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic 
energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace. He described 
himself as a moderate in domestic affairs, an internationalist in 
foreign affairs, and a conservative in fiscal policy. Respected for his 
integrity and openness, he worked to restore our country's trust and 
confidence in the Presidency.
  One of his first acts as President was to pardon Richard Nixon before 
criminal charges were brought against him. Despite strong negative 
public reaction and political backlash, Ford maintained that this was 
the right thing to do for the good of the country, and history has 
borne this out. When the new President, Jimmy Carter, took the oath of 
office, President Carter summed up the sentiment expressed by many 
about Ford's Presidency by saying, ``For myself and for our Nation, I 
want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land.''
  Gerald Ford and his wife Betty continued to be active in the 
political process after leaving office. We are proud that Gerald Ford 
was from Michigan and an important part of the Ford legacy lives on 
through the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, MI, and 
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing our 38th President 
and his outstanding contributions to our country on the 40th 
anniversary of his Presidency.

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