Discover the Unexpected: Top 11 Fun Facts About Gerald Ford You Never Knew

1. The Accidental President

The Accidental President: a tale of missed elections and a twist of fate that sounds more like a political sitcom plot. Introducing Gerald Ford: the one U.S. president who didn't receive a single electoral vote for the roles of president or vice president. Talk about destiny with a sense of humor: Ford was appointed as vice president in 1973 after Spiro Agnew's resignation under the 25th Amendment and then became president when Richard Nixon said his famous "I'm not a crook" goodbye in 1974.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Family Switcheroo

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again - with a different family, of course: Gerald Ford's biological father, Leslie Lynch King Sr., was such a rambunctious alcohol enthusiast and fan of doling out abuse, that his dear wife said "no more" and bolted with baby Ford just sixteen days into his life, leaving King to remarry, have three more children, and maintain a healthy non-existence in Ford's life.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that former rival Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on the same day, July 4, 1826 - the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence? Discover their unique story and how their animosity transformed into an unexpected friendship. 🇺🇸❤️📝

=> Fun Facts about Presidents

3. Football Star Ford

Before Jerry hit the White House, he tackled the football field like a boss: Gerald Ford was a stellar football player in college, playing as a center and linebacker for the University of Michigan, earning the nickname "The Rock" and turning down pro football offers after being voted team MVP in 1934.
Source => nytimes.com

4. Presidential Gridiron Glory

Before Madden was a glimmer in John's eye, there was a future President tackling the gridiron like it was a political debate: Gerald Ford played in two historic college football games at the University of Michigan, winning national championships in 1932 and 1933, earning a spot in the East-West Shrine Game, and receiving offers from the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions – all before trading his cleats for a gavel and pursuing a career in law.
Source => sportskeeda.com

5. Bulletproof Fashion Statement

They say laughter is the best medicine, but for Gerald Ford, a bulletproof trench coat was a close second: During a 1975 visit to San Francisco, Ford narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by Sara Jane Moore, who fired two shots that barely missed him, prompting the president to sport a bulletproof trench coat in public appearances from that October onward.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Drain-Saving Encounter

Talk about a lucky break: Gerald Ford's foot had a "sole" encounter with a drain that kept him from being swept overboard during his time as a navigation officer on the USS Monterey. This presidential close call is immortalized in a statue on the USS Ford, and our 38th Commander-in-Chief went on to be the only one to serve in both World War II and the Cold War.
Source => businessinsider.com

7. White House Pool Party

Splishing, splashing, and presidential diving: President Gerald Ford constructed an outdoor pool on the White House grounds in 1975, only to unearth a debris-filled gully from the 1814 British White House burning during the process. Nevertheless, the pool was completed, and Ford, a swimmer and licensed water safety instructor, gladly took the plunge for some eager reporters.
Source => whitehousehistory.org

8. College Touchdowns to Law School

Before donning his presidential pads and taking the field at the White House, Gerald Ford scored touchdowns in college football and dabbled with tackling law on the sidelines: As a young athlete, Ford played center for the University of Michigan, contributing to national championships in 1932 and 1933, before briefly going semi-pro and eventually rushing into Yale Law School.
Source => whitehouse.gov

9. Pipe Dreams Pulled Off

Once upon a pipe dream: Gerald Ford's love for smoking pipes was legendary, but the plot twist in his tobacco tale is that he actually quit the puffing business long before bidding adieu to the world at the ripe age of 93, maintaining an active lifestyle and enjoying good health like a true pipe-less hero.
Source => smokingpipes.com

10. Presidential Doggy Dealings

In a ruff and tumble game of hide and seek, pretending to shop for a "middle-aged couple living in public housing," President Gerald Ford's family scored a furry friend: They actually purchased their beloved dog, Liberty; who became such an essential part of the family that one night, President Ford and Liberty found themselves locked out of the White House while attempting to take a walk.
Source => fordlibrarymuseum.gov

11. Inflation-Fighting Fiasco

In a twist that would make even superheroes blush, it turns out that President Gerald Ford once waged a war not on the most diabolical of villains, but on the sinister force known as... inflation: In his 1974 speech titled "Whip Inflation Now", Ford unveiled a plan of personal saving and disciplined spending habits aimed at taming inflation. Alas, the crusade was remembered as one of the biggest government PR embarrassments in history, with the "WIN" buttons given to supporters becoming punchlines for mockery.
Source => en.wikipedia.org