Gerald Ford was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr. on July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents, Leslie Lynch King of Omaha, and Dorothy Gardner of Harvard, Illinois, met in college. The family lived in Omaha at Leslie’s parents’ Victorian mansion. Leslie was a rich wool trader.
How Cute!!!Sixteen days after Ford (Leslie Jr.) was born, Dorothy took her baby and left her husband. She found her husband to be abusive after their marriage. During their honeymoon, Leslie slapped Dorothy when she smiled at a man. She also discovered he was a liar and alcoholic, but at the time she was pregnant. After Ford was born, Leslie threatened Dorothy and Ford with a knife, and Dorothy knew she could not raise her child this way. Though divorce was uncommon in these days, she fled to her sister’s house and then her parents. This is where Ford grew up.Dorothy filed for divorce in December. Leslie refused to pay child support but his father, Charles Henry King, paid for it until his death in 1930.
Three years after, Dorothy found a new love, Grand Rapids businessman Gerald Rudolff Ford. They were married on February 1, 1917. The two decided to change Leslie Jr. (Ford)’s name to Gerald Rudolff Ford, Jr. even though he was not formally adopted by his new father. Dorothy had three sons with Gerald and all the children grew up having a good relationship with the family, unlike her first family.At age 13, Ford met his biological father. Ford worked as a waiter in a restaurant and his father had tracked him down while he was in town. They sat down and ate together and kept contact until Leslie’s death. His father would never live to know that his son would become president.
Having two families did not stop Ford from becoming successful. He loved his parents and said, “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.” Ford was a part of the Boy Scouts and attained the highest rank, Eagle Scout. He is the only president who was an Eagle Scout. Ford was an amazing athlete and captain of the football team. He attended the University of Michigan and played for the school’s football team, and helped his team to national titles. He could’ve been a pro-football player, but he took a coaching position at Yale and applied to its law school.Ford wanted to attend law school in 1935, while also coaching boxing and football AND teaching JV cheerleading. Ford knew how to do tucks and back handsprings. Yale denied his admission to law school, though, saying he had too many responsibilities. He spent his summer attending the University of Michigan Law School and after was finally accepted at Yale.
I learned so many interesting facts about Ford!!! I’m so glad I picked him as my topic. Sorry if the names are confusing. That’s why people nowadays don’t give their children the exact same names with junior attached to it!!! I hope you learned as much as I did!!~Cora
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