Gerald R. Ford's Watergate Scandal

From lawyer to President, Gerald Ford did amazing things. Ford became the 38th President after Nixon was forced to resign following his involvment in the Watergate Scandal. This was a major struggle for the United States. President Ford was credited with comforting the nation and helping rebuild the government during this difficult time. Ford's early life, early political career, presidency, and later life are all important topics that will be discussed. Gerald R. Ford Jr. was born on July 14th, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. His birth name was actually Leslie Lynch King Jr. after his father. Dorothy Gardener, Ford's mother, divorced the man after he domestically abused her within the same year. About three years later, Dorothy remarried a man …show more content…
He lived with his mom, step-dad, and three younger half-brothers named Thomas, Richard, and James. Sadly, Ford didn't know that his step-dad wasn't his real father until he was 13. He didn't know of his birth father until he was 17 when Leslie King made an abrupt stop in Ford's hometown. Ford went to South High School where he was a huge football star and the captain of the team. He also took an interest in Eagle Scouts. As a teen, he earned money by working for his step-dad's paint business and a resturaunt close by. Ford attended The University of Michigan from 1931-1935. His majors were economics and political science. Ford was still very interested in football at this time and became the MVP of his college team in 1934. He was asked by the Lions and Packers to be on their professional teams, but declined. He graduated from U of M in 1935. Hoping to attend law school at Yale, he opted for a job as an assistant football coach there. He earned his law degree in 1941 at the top of his …show more content…
After Ford graduated the next year, he wanted to work in a law firm and only help with politics on the side. Unfortunately, WWII started and he joined the Navy in 1942. In 1946, Ford was discharged at the rank of lieutenant commander. Once he got back to Grand Rapids, he ended up working in the law firm like he always wanted to. In 1948, Ford decided he wanted to join the House of Representatives. He ran against Bartel Jonkman and won. Later that year, Ford was elected for Congress and recieved the majority of the votes. During the campaign, Ford married Elizabeth "Betty" Anne Bloomer Warren. Betty grew up in the same town as her husband, Grand Rapids. The couple was forced to move to Washingoton, D.C following Ford's victory. There, they eventualy had four children named Michael, John, Steven, and Susan. As a House representative, Ford was very well known and was re-elected 12 times with more than 60% of the vote each time. He was a very close friend of Nixon for many many