Reviews
Author O'Shei opens his book with a good introduction dealing with Gerald Ford's taking over the presidency in 1974 when President Nixon resigned office due to the Watergate events. What is interesting is that Ford didn't want the presidency, but had no other choice. After the first chapter, the author writes about Ford's early life as Leslie Lynch King, Jr., named after his father who was abusive to his wife. Ford's mother divorced his father and later married Gerald Ford who adopted him and gave him his current name. Ford became a Boy Scout, and then a football player in high school and college. After graduating from college he went to work at Yale University as an offensive line coach and coach of the freshman boxing team. He eventually attended Yale's Law School part-time and later full-time. Upon graduation from law school, he returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan and opened a law firm with a friend. In 1941 he went into the Navy, and after service returned to law. His marriage to Betty Bloomer, raising a family, and entry into politics filled his later years. Gerald Ford decided to run for Congress in 1948, won, and became the ranking minority member on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. In 1968, Richard Nixon became President of the United States and Spiro Agnew was elected Vice President. In 1973, Vice President Agnew resigned and President Nixon invited Ford to become his Vice President. Ford accepted and served for eight months until President Nixon resigned from the presidency. Gerald R. Ford became the first and only chief executive to take the oath of office without having been elected to either the vice presidency or the presidency. Ford served as President from 1974 to 1977. While in office, President Ford granted Nixon a "full, free, and absolute pardon." This decision was not a popular one with many people. President Ford found he liked being the leader of the country and decided to run again, but was defeated in 1976 by Jimmy Carter. Today, Ford gives interviews and stays interested in politics. Color photographs, Internet sites, chapter notes, and further reading list are included. This selection is "A MyReportLinks.com" Book., Children's Literature
