Birth-College Born on July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska He was originally named Leslie Lynch King Jr. His parents were Leslie King and Dorothy Gardner King, but soon after Fords birth they divorced His Mother Dorothy moved to Grand Rapids and married Gerald Ford, who adopted Ford and had his name changed Born on July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska He was originally named Leslie Lynch King Jr. His parents were Leslie King and Dorothy Gardner King, but soon after Fords birth they divorced His Mother Dorothy moved to Grand Rapids and married Gerald Ford, who adopted Ford and had his name changed Ford was an athletic, outgoing, happy child To help out his stepfather, Ford took a lunch counter job earning only $2 a week Ford had no idea that he had been adopted, until his father stopped at Fords job on his way to get a new Lincoln and told him he was adopted Fords father offered him to stay with him in Wyoming after he graduated high school, Ford turned him down Ford was an athletic, outgoing, happy child To help out his stepfather, Ford took a lunch counter job earning only $2 a week Ford had no idea that he had been adopted, until his father stopped at Fords job on his way to get a new Lincoln and told him he was adopted Fords father offered him to stay with him in Wyoming after he graduated high school, Ford turned him down I thought, Here I was, earning $2 a week and trying to get through school, my stepfather was having difficult times, Yet here was my real father, obviously doing quite well if he cold pick up a new Lincoln Birth-College He was an adequate student, and was an Eagle Scout as well as a great football player Ford attended Grand Rapids South High School While in high school he was an outstanding athlete and also was captain of the football team He was an adequate student, and was an Eagle Scout as well as a great football player Ford attended Grand Rapids South High School While in high school he was an outstanding athlete and also was captain of the football team College-Grad School Fords football skills attracted some alumni from the University of Michigan and he was provided a scholarship and a job waiting tables Ford did not see much playing action because an all-American center was starting was in front of him Fords football skills attracted some alumni from the University of Michigan and he was provided a scholarship and a job waiting tables Ford did not see much playing action because an all-American center was starting was in front of him College-Grad School Finally in his senior season he got in the starting lineup playing center. That season he was voted most valuable player on his team. He graduated from Michigan with a B average Finally in his senior season he got in the starting lineup playing center. That season he was voted most valuable player on his team. He graduated from Michigan with a B average College-Grad School While applying for Yale Law school, he took a job as the boxing coach and assistant football coach The school turned him down because they felt that he could not coach and be a student at the same time Although later he was accepted and was allowed to enroll full time Ford graduated in 1941 in the upper third of the class While applying for Yale Law school, he took a job as the boxing coach and assistant football coach The school turned him down because they felt that he could not coach and be a student at the same time Although later he was accepted and was allowed to enroll full time Ford graduated in 1941 in the upper third of the class Navy-Early Career On April 20, 1942, Ford reported for active duty in Maryland He spent 47 months(3 years and 11 months) on active duty Two years of his time he spent on the aircraft carrier U.S.S Monterey On April 20, 1942, Ford reported for active duty in Maryland He spent 47 months(3 years and 11 months) on active duty Two years of his time he spent on the aircraft carrier U.S.S Monterey Navy-Early Career While on the U.S.S Monterey, Ford was nearly swept off the side of the carrier by a typhoon Ford received the Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with two bronze stars for Leyte and Mindoro, as well as the American Campaign and World War II Victory medals While on the U.S.S Monterey, Ford was nearly swept off the side of the carrier by a typhoon Ford received the Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with two bronze stars for Leyte and Mindoro, as well as the American Campaign and World War II Victory medals Navy-Early Career After returning from the navy, Ford continued his legal career in Grand Rapids He became active in the community and was named one of the 10 most outstanding young men by the Junior Chamber of Commerce After returning from the navy, Ford continued his legal career in Grand Rapids He became active in the community and was named one of the 10 most outstanding young men by the Junior Chamber of Commerce Political involvement and the House When Ford returned to Grand Rapids he started becoming involved in Republican politics Many of his supporters pushed him to run for congressman against Bartle J. Jonkman When Ford returned to Grand Rapids he started becoming involved in Republican politics Many of his supporters pushed him to run for congressman against Bartle J. Jonkman Political involvement and the House Most people did not think that Ford would beat Jonkman, a isolationist who was against American involvement overseas Although when the results came in, Ford won the election with over 60% of the votes Most people did not think that Ford would beat Jonkman, a isolationist who was against American involvement overseas Although when the results came in, Ford won the election with over 60% of the votes Political involvement and the House In the early 1950s, Ford declined offers to run for the Senate and the governor of Michigan, instead he focused on becoming Speaker of the House In 1964, Ford ran to become House Minority Leader and he won As Minority leader, Ford was instrumental in shepherding revenue sharing through congress, and culminating in a bipartisan coalition Ford won many friends in the House with his fair leadership and inoffensive personality In the early 1950s, Ford declined offers to run for the Senate and the governor of Michigan, instead he focused on becoming Speaker of the House In 1964, Ford ran to become House Minority Leader and he won As Minority leader, Ford was instrumental in shepherding revenue sharing through congress, and culminating in a bipartisan coalition Ford won many friends in the House with his fair leadership and inoffensive personality Family and Personal Life Ford had three half- brothers and three half- siblings; Thomas Ford, Richard Ford, James Ford, Majorie King, Leslie King and Patricia King Ford never saw any of his siblings from the King side as a child Ford and his father Leslie had sporadic contact until his death Ford had three half- brothers and three half- siblings; Thomas Ford, Richard Ford, James Ford, Majorie King, Leslie King and Patricia King Ford never saw any of his siblings from the King side as a child Ford and his father Leslie had sporadic contact until his death Family and Personal Life Ford has said that his father Leslie King had a history of hitting his mother His stepfather was quite the opposite and Ford had described his father as a Magnificent person Ford has said that his father Leslie King had a history of hitting his mother His stepfather was quite the opposite and Ford had described his father as a Magnificent person My stepfather was a magnificent person and my mother equally wonderful. So I couldn't have written a better prescription for a superb family upbringing. Family and Personal Life On October 15, 1948, in Grand Rapids, Ford married Elizabeth Bloomer Warren Together they had four children Michael Gerald John Gardner Steven Meigs Susan Elizabeth On October 15, 1948, in Grand Rapids, Ford married Elizabeth Bloomer Warren Together they had four children Michael Gerald John Gardner Steven Meigs Susan Elizabeth V.P. and Presidency Ford was nominated to former V.P Spiro Agnew in 1973 The United States Senate voted 92-3 and the House voted in favor of Ford Ford had a brief time as V.P and was very little known Ford was nominated to former V.P Spiro Agnew in 1973 The United States Senate voted 92-3 and the House voted in favor of Ford Ford had a brief time as V.P and was very little known V.P. and Presidency When Nixon resigned, Ford assumed the presidency, making him the only president to be V.P and president without being voted in by the public On August 20, Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller to fill the V.P position When Nixon resigned, Ford assumed the presidency, making him the only president to be V.P and president without being voted in by the public On August 20, Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller to fill the V.P position I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as your president with your prayers. V.P. and Presidency In 1974, Ford gave a full and unconditional pardon to Nixon Ford urged people to Whip Inflation Now Ford and Soviet Union leader Leonid Brezhnev signed a joint communiqu on the SALT treaty Even with the seriousness and the variety of the problems that confronted him, Ford stayed optimistic throughout his presidency In 1974, Ford gave a full and unconditional pardon to Nixon Ford urged people to Whip Inflation Now Ford and Soviet Union leader Leonid Brezhnev signed a joint communiqu on the SALT treaty Even with the seriousness and the variety of the problems that confronted him, Ford stayed optimistic throughout his presidency