Gerald Rudolph Ford - Biography.

Gerald Rudolph Ford - Biography. 38th president of the United States Birth July 14, 1913 Death December 26, 2006 Home State Michigan Party Republican Term In Office August 9, 1974-January 20, 1977 Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller Significant Acts Granted pardon to Richard Nixon in 1974 for crimes Nixon was accused of committing in relation to the Watergate scandal. Ordered the evacuation of remaining American personnel from Vietnam in 1975. Signed the Helsinki Accords in 1975, pledging to improve relations between the United States and Soviet-bloc countries. Ordered military action to rescue the crew of the Mayaguez, a commercial ship that had been seized by Cambodian Communists. Career 1943-1945 Served in the U.S. Navy in World War II. 1949-1973 Represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives. 1963-1964 Served on the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 1965 Elected House minority leader. 1973-1974 Vice president of the United States under Richard M. Nixon. 1974-1977 President of the United States. Did You Know Gerald Ford attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest level in the Boy Scouts. Ford escaped two attempted assassinations--both by women. Ford turned down offers to play football for the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. Ford was the only U.S. president who was not elected to either the presidency or vice presidency. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.