Gerald Ford

Born as Leslie Lynch King, Jr. in Omaha, Nebraska, his mother divorced his father the following year and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where she remarried to Gerald R. Ford. The young boy’s name was then changed to Gerald R. Ford, Jr. Graduated from the University of Michigan and Yale Law School. Served in U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1948, Ford was elected to Congress and married divorcee Elizabeth (Betty) Bloomer. Together,they had 4 children. Became House Minority leader in 1965. Member of the Warren Commission in the 1960s. Appointed Vice President by President Richard M. Nixon in 1973 after the resignation of Spiro Agnew. Became President when Nixon resigned in 1974 as a result of the Watergate scandal. Sought election to a full term in 1976 but was defeated by Georgia governor Jimmy Carter in a close election. He passed away at his home in Rancho Mirage, California.