Reflections.

 

President Gerald Ford lived a long life with a Presidency that was in an age of transition. Ford was an athlete, a Congressperson, and the man who was President after the significant Watergate scandal. He was an Eisenhower Republican or a center right political leader who wanted normal in his eyes after the Vietnam War including Watergate. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Leslie and Dorothy King. His original name was Leslie Lynch King, Jr. He was born on July 14, 1913. Later, Dorothy King and Gerald Ford fled Omaha to Grand Rapids, Michigan to live with his grandparents. Dorothy was a victim of domestic abuse from her husband. Dorothy King married Gerald R. Ford Sr. (who was a Grand Rapids businessman). Leslie Lynch King Jr. was later renamed to Gerald R. Ford, Jr. Gerald Ford attended Madison Elementary School in Grand Rapids. He joined the Trinity Methodist Church, and he was involved in football at South High School in Grand Rapids too. He was named All City and All-State teams. As a younger person, Ford worked with his father's paint and varnish factory and a local hamburger stand. By the 1930's, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Economics. He was part of the honor society of Michigaua, and he was a member of the fraternity of Delta Kappa Epsilon. In college, he was a center on the football team. Gerald Ford was the MVP on the 1934 team. He played many games. He declined to play for the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. By September of 1935, Ford was hired by Yale University to be an assistant football and boxing coach. Ford was an Intern Forest Ranger at Yellowstone Park's Canyon Station. By the summer of 1937, Ford attended law classes at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He worked hard in the Yale University Law school. He supported the isolationist America First Committee as America sees war across Europe in February 1938. Look Magazine featured a photography of Ford and his ten girlfriend Phyllis Brown (a model for Cosmopolitan Magazine). By the Fall of 1940, he supported the Republican Wendell Willkie's Presidential campaign. He volunteered for him, and he attended his first Republican convention in Philadelphia. 

On Spring of 1941, Ford graduated in the top third of his law school class at yale. Gerald Ford has his own law firm in May of 1941 with his friend Philip Bunchen. It's found in Suite 621 of the Michigan Trust Building. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Navy. He was sent to Chapel Hill, North Carolina as an athletic training officer. Gerald Ford was placed on the carrier USS Monterey as the ship's athletic officer. He worked on the ship's gunnery officers. He saw action in the Pacific Theater while being on the USS Monterey in the Battle of Makin. The ship attacked targets in Kwajalein and Eniwetok, New Guinea, Saipan Guam, and Formosa. The Monterey survived the typhoon in the Pacific. He survived it on December 18, 1944.  By the Spring of 1945, Ford is promoted to Lieutenant Commander and assigned to Glenview, Illinois, to train new naval officers for sea duty. On February 1946, Ford was honorably discharged from active duty in the United States Navy. During his service, he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with one silver star and four bronze stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Gerald Ford worked in Grand Rapids to work on the law firm of Butterfield, Keeney, and Amberg (with his friend Philip Buchen). Gerald Ford has worked in charities like the Red Cross, the American Legion, and the VFW. Reforming Grand Rapids politics was part of his life. He was influenced by the Senator Arthur Vandenberg, who believed in internationalism. Gerald Ford dated Elizabeth Bloomer Warren. They were introduced by mutual friends. 

Gerald Ford ran for Congress for the U.S. House of Representatives, Fifth Congressional District of Michigan on June 14, 1948. He defeats the isolationist Bertel Jonkman, a McKay associate. On October 15, 1948, Ford and Betty Bloomer Warren wed at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. Marrying in the middle of his congressional campaign, the couple honeymoon briefly in Ann Arbor, attend the University of Michigan-Northwestern football game, and then drove to Owosso, Michigan to attend a rally for Republican Presidential candidate Thomas Dewey. By 1948, Gerald Ford was elected to the U.S. Congress. Gerald Ford supported Eisenhower, Nixon, and the Republican Party. He has children like Michael Gerald Ford and John Gardner Ford. Ford supported funding the military and was very popular in Michigan. Ford attended an address of the South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem on May 1957. Diem was speaking to Congress. When Kennedy was President, he supported many of JFK's foreign aid initiatives. He was awarded the Congressional Distinguished Service Award from the American Political Science Association. People know him also as being part of the Warren Commission. He was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson. The Warren Commission believes that there was no conspiracy in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Ford would publish his own book about the tragedy entitled, Portrait of an Assassin with his friend John R. Stiles. Ford won his ninth term as Congressman by 1964 after LBJ defeated Barry Goldwater. Gerald Ford became the House Minority leader in 1965 over Halleck. In his first term as House Minority Leader, Ford offers Republican alternatives to the Great Society legislation of the Johnson administration. He appears with Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen of Illinois in weekly press conferences (known as the “Ev and Jerry Show”) to offer critiques of Johnson administration policies. He also campaigns on behalf of Republican candidates during the 1966 midterm elections. Ford in his second term as House Minority Leader begins attacking Johnson’s position on the war in Vietnam asking in an August 8, 1967 speech, “Why are we pulling our best punches in Vietnam?”

Gerald Ford supported a changing Republican Party. By the end of the 1960's, the Republicans declined in the amount of liberals and moderates, while conservatives came into the GOP in droves (especially with the Southern Strategy's race based plan). Ford supported Nixon and Spiro Agnew. He supported Nixon's policies in the House, despite Nixon's extremism and corruption. During Watergate, Spiro Agnew, under investigation for accepting bribes and income tax evasion while Governor of Maryland, resigns as Vice President of the United States. Gerald Ford was later made Vice President of the United States by President Richard Nixon. The Senate supported Ford's nomination by a vote of 92-3. Ford takes his oath as Vice President on 1973. By August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States. He gave his famous speech that, "Our long, national nightmare is over.” Following the ceremony, President Ford goes immediately to work, meeting with Congressional leaders, senior White House staff, transition advisors, senior economic advisors, and foreign emissaries. He faces a nation with massive inflation like now in 2022. He tried to fight it. He promoted clemency for Vietnam War draft evaders in 1974 after giving a major speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Chicago. Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller (former Governor of New York) to be Vice President. Ford pardoning Richard Nixon shocked the nation, and his poll numbers goes down. His wife, Betty Ford, fights breast cancer by undergoing surgery. Whip Inflation Now is part of his movement to stop inflation. He also signed the Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974 which wanted to regulate campaign fundraising and spending. Ford vetoes the Freedom of Information Act Amendments believing not enough protection is given to sensitive and classified intelligence documents. Congress overrides Ford’s veto on November 21, 1974, making the bill law.

By 1974, Republicans lost 40 seats in the House and 4 in the Senate over the economy, the pardoning of Nixon, and other issues. Ford traveled to Japan, the South Korea, and the Soviet Union. He goes to met Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R., meet in Vladivostok, U.S.S.R. Following Congressional approval, Nelson Rockefeller is sworn in as the forty-first Vice President of the United States on December 19, 1974. Ford signed the Privacy Act of 1974. Gerald Ford was honest to say that the state of the Union is not good in his 1975 State of the Union Address. Ford wants tax cuts for American families and reductions of government spending. Ford knows that the Vietnam War was near over, so he evacuates American personnel and South Vietnamese nationals on April 28, 1975 when Saigon becomes in total control by the Communists. American troops recovered civilians from the U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez in international waters. The Marines rescue the ship's crew, but many Marines have died. It was from May 12-15, 1975. Gerald Ford traveled the world and he runs for President starting in July 8, 1975 for the 1976 Presidential election. Ford departs on a trip to Europe for visits to West Germany, Poland, Finland, Romania, and Yugoslavia. In Helsinki, Ford joins leaders of 34 nations in signing the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Act’s human rights provisions greatly help East Europeans seeking an end to their communist regimes.

Gerald Ford survived an assassination attempt by Charles Manson follower Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme in Sacramento, California on September 5, 1975. Sara Jane Moore failed to assassinate Ford too in San Francisco, California. Ford, like Hoover, wants financial restraint for New York City during its budget crisis. He didn't want federal help for New York City at this time. He sent the city a line of credit by November 26, 1975. He organized his cabinet by naming neo-cons in his administration. He names Donald Rumsfeld as Defense Secretary, Elliot Richardson as Commerce Secretary, George Bush as CIA Director, and Richard Cheney as White House Chief of Staff. Henry Kissinger remains Secretary of State; however, he turns over his duties as National Security Advisor to Brent Scowcroft. Under pressure from Republican Party Conservatives, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller withdraws his name from consideration as Ford’s 1976 running mate. Ford supported John Paul Stevens to be in the Supreme Court by 1975. The Senate approves him unanimously in a vote of 98-0. Later, Ford talks to the Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping and Chairman Mao Zedong to build momentum toward normalization of relations. In 1976, Ford barely beat Ronald Reagan by 1,250 votes in the New Hampshire primary. Ford had a strong opponent in Reagan during the 1976 Republican primary. July 4, 1976, was America’s Bicentennial of independence. The year is marked by numerous head of state visits and state gifts to the United States. On July 4, President Ford attends events at Valley Forge, PA; Operation Sail in New York City; and in Philadelphia, PA.

Queen Elizabeth II came to the White House during the bicentennial celebration. After defeating Reagan in the Republican primary, Ford had a race against Jimmy Carter. He had a debate with him. The Second presidential candidate debate, on foreign policy and defense issues, in San Francisco. During the debate, Ford comments that “there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration.” This misstatement is fodder for the press and public for the next several days. He had his final debate in Williamsburg, Virginia. Jimmy Carter won the 1976 election. Ford left office by January 20, 1977., Gerald Ford  and his wife create their memoirs. He goes on to support Ronald Reagan as President. His Presidential Library is found Ann Arbor, Michigan, and his Presidential Museum is in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On October 10, 1981, at the request of President Reagan, Ford joins former Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter as part of the official American delegation attending the funeral of assassinated Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. The Betty Ford Center was dedicated in October 3, 1982. His football jersey of 48 was retired at a Michigan State football game. He and President Carter wanted President Clinton to be censured instead of impeached during the 1998 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. Ford also wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times to defend the University of Michigan’s system of admission standards that uses affirmative action. 

President Ford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, by President Clinton on August 11, 1999. On October 27, 1999, President Ford receives the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award bestowed by the Legislative branch. By the year of 2000, he spoke about the Vietnam War. Following the closely contested 2000 Presidential election, Former Presidents Ford and Carter are named as honorary Co-Chairmen of the National Commission on Federal Election Reform. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, President, and Mrs. Ford attend the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance ceremony at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The NCAA names Ford as the fourteenth most-influential student-athlete of the last 100 years. On December 26, 2006, President Ford dies at his California home. He was 93 years old. The nation enters a period of mourning, and funeral services are held in Palm Desert, California; Washington, D.C.; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. At the conclusion of funeral services at St. Margaret’s Church in Palm Desert, California, President Ford’s body is flown to Washington, D.C. to lie in state at the U.S. Capital Rotunda and for services at the National Cathedral. Before arriving at the Capital, the funeral procession drives to Alexandria, Virginia, and the Ford’s former home there. The procession also pauses for a ceremony at the World War II Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. on January 2, 2007, Funeral services are held for President Ford at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Eulogies are given by President George W. Bush, Former President George H.W. Bush, Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and Journalist Tom Brokaw. Following the service, President Ford’s body is flown back to Grand Rapids to lie in repose and for services. Funeral services are held for President Ford at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the service, eulogies are given by Former President Jimmy Carter, Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Historian Richard Norton Smith. Following the service, President Ford is interred on the grounds of his Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Gerald Ford was a center right conservative man, but he wasn't an extremist who wanted America to be ruined. He felt, in his heart, that it was his duty to improve the society of America. Also, he followed many progressive views like his support of affirmative action and his opposition to the Iraq War. Gerald Ford was a person who lived in both the 20th and 21st century seeing a massive amount of political and social evolutions in the world society. President Gerald Ford loved his wife and children realizing that family and friends make a soul become more enriched. 

 

President Jimmy Carter is the oldest living American President now. He is a human being who worked hard from being a peanut farmer to working in Habitat for Humanity decades after his Presidency. He is one of the most humble Presidents in American history. He was only in office for one term, but his legacy has stretched for long decades. After his Presidency, he became much more progressive in his outlook on life and his political views. He was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. His parents were Earl and Lillian Carter. Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plain in the community of Archtery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. He was in first grade at Plains High School in 1930. By 1941, he graduated from Plains High School, and he enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, Georgia. By 1942, he was transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. During Jimmy Carter's life, he wanted to join the Navy as a child. Then, he would get his wish as he would be appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis by 1943. Jimmy Carter earned his naval commission and married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved into Norfolk, Virginia by July 7, 1946. From 1946 to 1952, he traveled the world as a naval officer to places like Virginia, Hawaii, Connecticut, and New York. He had 3 songs during this time like Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950, and Jeff in 1952. 

By 1953, Earl Carter, Jimmy father, passed away from cancer. Lt. Jimmy Carter resigned from the U.S. Navy returning to Plains with his family to run Carter's Warehouse. They had to live in Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. From 1954-1962, he increased his service to his community. He worked on many local boards. Education was important in his life, so Jimmy Carter accepted an appointment to the Sumter County Board of Education. Jimmy Carter was elected to the Georgia State Senate and served 2 terms from 1962 to 1966. He lost his governor's race to the controversial Lester Maddox in 1966. By 1967, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's fourth child, Amy, was born. He ran for governor again and won the election in 1971. He was Georgia's 6th Governor starting on January 12, 1971. Jimmy Carter shown his policies, and he ran for President in 1974. Thousands of people visit Plains in hopes of meeting him. The town changes from agriculture-based businesses to tourist shops selling souvenirs. Jimmy Carter ran a tough Presidential campaign. He supported musicians, he defeated Gerald Ford, and he appeared to working class people. Also, Carter is a born again Christian. He caused a new era of more born-again Christians being involved in politics. He won the election to be the 39th President of the United States of America. 

Jimmy Carter was inaugurated President of the United States of America on January 20, 1977, in Washington, D.C. President Carter addresses the country on energy needs. The Panama Canal treaty is signed. By 1978, the U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David.  In 1979, the Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals over run the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (SALT II) is signed. Jimmy Carter wanted his foreign policy to promote human rights around the world. The controversial Brzezinski inspired Carter to support the Mujahideen attacking the Soviets in Afghanistan by 1979 too. In 1980, the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act was signed. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Jimmy Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as President by Ronald Reagan in November. Ronald Reagan had a tidal wave of support involving the new conservative movement. This movement was growing since the days of Goldwater back in 1964. With Evangelical support, neo-con support, and other far right people, Ronald Reagan organized a massive system that caused him to have a Presidential victory in 1980. In 1981, President Carter continued to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as President is over, the hostages were released.  Former President Carter leaves Washington, DC and heads to Germany to greet the hostages. President and Mrs. Carter return to their home in Plains, Georgia. Jimmy Carter lost the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan. The conservative leader Reagan had too much power. Carter struggled with economic issues, foreign policy matters, and even attacks from progressives. His disagreement with Edward Kennedy over health care caused Jimmy Carter to this very day to say that his plan was better than Kennedy's plan. In 1982, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter after much planning and fundraising established The Carter Center in Atlanta. The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum and The Carter Center in Atlanta opened in 1986. 

After his Presidency, Jimmy Carter has become very progressive. He has been a voice for the oppressed for decades. He traveled the world to fight racism, poverty, and injustice. Jimmy Carter monitored elections overseas, wrote books, taught Sunday school, and became a real activist for real political change. He opposed the Iraq War, promoted equality among Israelis and Palestinians, and fought for justice for all. 

 

Erin Denyce Overton is my 5th cousin as she is related to the Lowe and Claud family. We share the same ancestor of Zilphy Claud (or my 5th great grandmother). Erin was born on November 23, 1987, at Riverside, California. Her parents are Ralph Wayne Overton (b. 1955) and Marsha Lynn Teague (b. 1957). Marsha Lynn Teague's parents are Hubert Lathen Teague (1928-2004) and Jean Deynce Lowe (b. 1936). Jean Denyce Lowe's parents are Elgin Madison Lowe (1914-2000) and Lois Elaine Ballard (1910-1990). Elgin Madison Lowe's parents are Bishop Charlie Wesley Lowe (1875-1954) and Louisa A. Sykes (1876-1955). Louisa A. Sykes' parents are Willis Sykes and my 4th great grandaunt Lydia Claud (b. 1842). Lydia Claud's mother was Zilphy Claud. Erin Overton has been a strong activist to promote Black Lives Matter and many social justice causes. She is part of the Class of 2012 from California State University Fullerton (studying Biology). She is the Class of 2016 at Kansas City University. She earned her degree at Saba University  School of Medicine (2015-2021). She traveled into Toronto, Philadelphia, Columbia, and other places of the world. Erin's brother is Ryan Wayne Overton (b. 1984). Ralph Overton's parents are Edmondson Overton (1926-20120 and Mary Marilyn Samiere (b. 1933). 

By Timothy