Podcast
250 Years of American Political Leadership
Featuring Iain Dale, award-winning British author and radio and podcast host
The Ford White House: 1974-1977
Gallery
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This photograph shows a young Gerald R. Ford as a college student at the University of Michigan, dressed for football practice. Ford was a dedicated and talented athlete. During his first year at the University of Michigan, Ford was awarded the Meyer Morton Most Promising Freshman trophy, and was later voted most valuable player by his teammates during his senior year.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph is of Gerald R. Ford being sworn in as the 38th president of the United States by Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger in the White House East Room on August 9, 1974. Ford had been confirmed as vice president in 1973 following Vice President Spiro T. Agnew's resignation. Ford would ascend to the presidency after President Richard M. Nixon resigned from office in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This color photograph shows the Ford family in the Oval Office after Gerald R. Ford's swearing-in ceremony. Left to Right: Jack Ford, Steve Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, President Gerald R. Ford, Susan Ford, Mrs. Gayle Ann and Mike Ford.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This black and white photograph by David Hume Kennerly shows President Gerald R. Ford and his son, Steve, playing tennis on the White House courts.
National Archives and Records Administration -
This photograph is of President Gerald R. Ford holding the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft model from a model set depicting the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, an Earth orbital docking and rendezvous mission involving crewmen from the U.S. and USSR. With him are the cosmonauts and astronauts who participated in the mission.
NASA -
This photograph shows Susan Ford dancing at her high school prom, which was held in the East Room. She is dancing with a member of the OuterSpace Band, a five-member group consisting of former students from Trinity College in Harford, Connecticut. The travelling band performed music from a variety of popular styles for dances at colleges and clubs.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
In this photograph by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Gerald R. Ford welcomes soccer superstar Pelé in the Rose Garden of the White House on June 28, 1975. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé visited the White House while in town with his team the New York Cosmos, who were scheduled to play against the Washington Diplomats in a North American Soccer League match that weekend. Pelé showed President Ford his juggling skills, seen here, before the president tried his hand at the soccer skill. Also attending the event were Joao Augusto de Araujo Castro, Brazilian ambassador to the United States; Joseph Danzansky, owner of the New York Cosmos; Clive Toye, general manager of the Cosmos; Steven Leipsner, general manager of the Washington Diplomats; and Julio Mazzei, Pelés adviser and longtime friend, who served as his interpreter.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph of First Lady Betty Ford working at her desk in the East Wing of the White House was taken by David Hume Kennerly on June 28, 1975. Her desk featured a special "Don't Tread On Me" E.R.A. flag. On September 4, 1974, during her first press conference as first lady, she expressed support for the Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.), which, if passed, would have guaranteed legal equality for American citizens, regardless of sex. She continued to support the passage of the amendment throughout her time in the White House, calling senators, traveling across the country to lobby for ratification, and participating in womens conferences and meetings. With his wifes encouragement, in 1975, President Gerald R. Ford created the National Commission on the Observance of International Womens Year by executive order.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This black and white photograph by David Hume Kennerly shows President Gerald R. Ford swimming in the new White House swimming pool for reporters on July 5, 1975. The swimming pool is located on the South Grounds of the White House and is different from the one built in 1933 during the Franklin Roosevelt administration, which was indoors and covered over in 1970 to become the Press Room. President Ford's first swim in the pool came just a few days earlier, on July 1.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This color photograph shows President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford and daughter Susan posing with their dog Liberty and Liberty's puppies. One of these puppies was later donated to a guide dog program to be trained as a service animal for the blind in order to publicize that cause.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This color photograph shows President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford with Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako of Japan walking down the Cross Hall toward the East Room before a State Dinner held in the Japanese Head of State's honor.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph of First Lady Betty Ford speaking with press outside of the Guttman Institute for Early Detection of Breast Cancer in New York was taken by Karl Schumacher on November 7, 1975. Behind her is a bus with the graphic, "Early Detection Saves Lives... It May Save Yours..." in English and Spanish. Shortly after moving into the White House, Mrs. Ford discovered a lump in her breast and underwent a radical mastectomy at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Her subsequent decision to address her illness during a White House press conference helped reduce the stigma against discussing breast cancer and treatment.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph shows First Lady Betty Ford and daughter Susan making Christmas decorations in the Solarium.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This photograph of the official White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room was taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph H. Bailey on December 16, 1975. In 1975, First Lady Betty Ford selected the theme "An Old-Fashioned Christmas in America," also referred to as "A Williamsburg Children's Christmas" as the theme for the Christmas tree. Colonial Williamsburg staff and volunteers contributed a majority of the nearly 3,000 ornaments that decorated the Douglas fir, using materials such as dried flowers and fruit, acorns, pinecones, straw, and yarn. The Museum of American Folk Art lent the White House ten antique portraits of children to place on the walls of the Blue Room, as well as an assortment of old toys, dolls, cradles, a train, rocking horse, and a wagon to place around the base of the tree.
White House Historical Association -
This black and white photograph is of First Lady Betty Ford and designer Betty Sherrill previewing the table settings and decorations during preparations for a state dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of Great Britain on July 7 as part of the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations. The Johnson state china service is on the table.
Associated Press -
This photograph by Ricardo Thomas shows President Gerald R. Ford dancing with Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom during a State Dinner held in her honor.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA -
This black and white photograph by White House photographer David Hume Kennerly shows First Lady Betty Ford striking a pose on the Cabinet Room table her last day in the White House.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
About this Gallery
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the nation’s only unelected president and vice president, served thirteen terms in Congress before rising to national attention in 1973, when President Richard Nixon nominated him as vice president. Less than a year later, Ford became president, following President Nixon's resignation from office. The Fords made and celebrated history during their time in the White House, from the president's call for the construction of an outdoor swimming pool, to the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, to Susan Ford's prom at the White House. First Lady Betty Ford’s time in the White House was short yet her candor, activism, and spirit made a remarkable impact on the American people.
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