Gerald Ford Interview: His Greatest Achievement and Disappointment in Office

President Gerald Ford recalls his “superb” family upbringing, his time in the Navy, and how being an athlete gave him perspective on winning and losing. He discusses Vietnam, the pardon of Richard Nixon, attempts on his life, and his greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as president.

Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, July 14, 1913. He attended public schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan; received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1935; and an LL.B. from Yale University Law School in 1941. He received all-city and all-state football honors in Grand Rapids during high school, and he was a member of the University of Michigan's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933. In 1934 he was named the University of Michigan's most valuable player. He served as assistant varsity football coach at Yale while a law student there. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Navy, serving almost four years during World War II and participated in 3rd and 5th carrier operations aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Monterey for two years. He was discharged in 1946 as a Lt.Commander and resumed the practice of law. He married Elizabeth Bloomer on October 15, 1948. They were the parents of four children. President Ford was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948 and re-elected every two years through 1972, serving 25 years in the House. He was elected Chairman of the Republican Conference in 1963, and chosen Minority Leader in 1965, a position he held in the 89th, 90th and 1st Session of the 93rd Congresses. He also was permanent chairman of the 1968 and 1972 Republican National Conventions. In November 1963, he was made a member of the Presidential Commission investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and authored (with John R. Stiles) the book, Portrait of the Assassin (1965). President Ford was nominated Vice President on October 12, 1973, to succeed Spiro T. Agnew, who resigned, and was confirmed December 6. He succeeded to the Presidency August 9, 1974, following the resignation of Richard Nixon. The Presidency of Gerald Ford is defined by his personal integrity and unbending adherence to the truth. President Ford won the Republican nomination for the Presidency in 1976, but lost the election to his democratic opponent, Jimmy Carter. On Inauguration Day, President Carter began his speech: “For myself and our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land. President Ford passed away December 26, 2006.

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Gerald Ford, 38th U.S. President
Interviewed By: Hugh Sidey
Interview Date: October 22, 1996

Chapter Markers:
Political Ambition (0:35)
Committee on Public Works & Truman (2:16)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (4:43)
John F. Kennedy (5:40)
The Warren Commission (6:52)
Lyndon B. Johnson (8:33)
House of Representatives (10:06)
Richard Nixon & Watergate (11:24)
Becoming Vice President (15:44)
Difficult Times in the Nixon White House (18:29)
The Smoking Gun (20:24)
Becoming President (21:12)
Escorting Nixon from the White House (25:10)
Pardoning Nixon (28:31)
Dealing with Criticism (33:55)
Vietnam & Amnesty (35:32)
Election Against Jimmy Carter (42:07)
Early Life (45:15)
Joining the Navy (48:40)
Greatest Achievements & Disappointments (50:46)

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