President and Mrs. Bush Saddened by Passing of Former President Ford

President and Mrs. Bush Saddened by Passing of Former President Ford

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Laura and I are greatly saddened by the passing of former President Gerald R. Ford.

President Ford was a great American who gave many years of dedicated service to our country. On August 9, 1974, after a long career in the House of Representatives and service as Vice President, he assumed the Presidency in an hour of national turmoil and division. With his quiet integrity, common sense, and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the Presidency.

The American people will always admire Gerald Ford's devotion to duty, his personal character, and the honorable conduct of his administration. We mourn the loss of such a leader, and our 38th President will always have a special place in our Nation's memory. On behalf of all Americans, Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to Betty Ford and all of President Ford's family. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them in the hours and days ahead.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061226-2.html

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The Former President, Gerald Ford served 1974 to 1977(Republican). He was 38th president for the United States America. He was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., the son of Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy Ayer Gardner King, on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska.

He was a gifted athlet, he worked on the side as a football coach. He played on the University's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933. He was voted the Wolverine's most valuable player in 1934 and on January 1, 1935, played in the annual East-West College All-Star game in San Francisco, for the benefit of the Shrine Crippled Children's Hospital. In August 1935 he played in the Chicago Tribune College All-Star football game at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears. When he returned home at the end of World War II, in which he served overseas as a navy combat officer.

He served as Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1949-73 and served as a Vice President, 1973-74 during the former President Nixon (38th President:January 20, 1969 to August 9, 1974).

He attended University of Michigan, Yale Law School. The number of stars on flag were 50 stars when he left office in whitehouse.

Since leaving the White House in January 1977, President Ford has lectured at 179 colleges and universities, on such issues as Congressional/White House relations, federal budget policies, and domestic and foreign policy issues.

President Ford was the Longest Lived American President, people remember that his famouse Statement in November 12, 2006:

President Ford Upon Becoming the Longest Lived American President

"The length of one�s days matters less than the love of one�s family and friends. I thank God for the gift of every sunrise and, even more, for all the years He has blessed me with Betty and the children, with our extended family and the friends of a lifetime. That includes countless Americans who, in recent months, have remembered me in their prayers. Your kindness touches me deeply. May God bless you all and may God bless America." "

He is Straightforward and honest, a man of recognized decency, and a great President. The nations and the Americans will miss his integrity and wonderful his work as a great American. His legacy will remian in our hearts and history forever.cision--and his alone.

References:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061226-2.html

http://www.ford.utexas.edu/library/speeches/20061112.asp

http://www.americanpresident.org/

Reported by Sandra Englund, December 26, 2006