Ford Gerald

Gerald Ford Writes about His Early Childhood

Typed letter signed by Gerald Ford, to Alan Roy Travis, April 6, 1992. 1 p. plus envelope, 6.375" x 8.5". On "Gerald R. Ford" stationery with the presidential seal.

Former President Gerald Ford writes to a young correspondent from Lone Oak in western Kentucky, a few miles southwest of Paducah, about his experiences with his step-father.

Excerpt

"I am always pleased to hear from my younger friends across the nation. I regret, due to my heavy schedule and so many similar requests, that I am unable to answer most of your questions specifically. I, too, as a young child, was adopted by my step-father after my parent's divorce. My last name was then changed from King to Ford. I loved my step-father and half brothers. They always made me feel a real part of their family."

Gerald R. Ford Jr. (1913-2006) was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. in Omaha, Nebraska, but his parents divorced months after his birth, and he grew up in Michigan. His mother married Gerald Rudolff Ford in 1916, and she renamed her son after her new husband. Ford did not legally change his name until 1935. He became an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1935 and from Yale Law School in 1941. Ford served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and U.S. Navy during World War II. Returning to Michigan, he became active in Republican politics and won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948. He served in Congress from 1949 to 1973, the last nine years as House Minority Leader. In 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Ford as one of nine members of the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy. When Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned in October 1973, Ford became Vice President to President Richard M. Nixon. Ten months later, Nixon resigned, and Ford became President. He narrowly lost reelection to Jimmy Carter in 1976.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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