IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 15 

Mourning the passing of President Gerald Rudolph Ford and celebrating 

his leadership and service to the people of the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 4, 2007 

Mr. EHLERS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Mourning the passing of President Gerald Rudolph Ford 

and celebrating his leadership and service to the people 

of the United States. 

Whereas all American Presidents affect the history of the 

United States, but President Gerald Rudolph Ford leaves 

a legacy of leadership and service that will endure for 

years to come; 

Whereas millions of men and women across America mourn 

the death of the 38th President of the United States; 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford is the only person from the State 

of Michigan to have served as President of the United 

States; 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford graduated from the University of 

Michigan with academic and athletic excellence; 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 15 IH 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford attended Yale University Law 

School and graduated in the top 25 percent of his class 

while also working as a football coach; 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford joined the United States Navy Reserves in 1942 and served valiantly on the U.S.S. 

Monterrey in the Philippines during World War II; 

Whereas the U.S.S. Monterrey earned 10 battle stars, awarded for participation in battle while Gerald R. Ford served 

on the ship; 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford was released to inactive duty in 

1946 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander; 

Whereas in 1948, Gerald R. Ford was elected to the House 

of Representatives, where he served with integrity for 25 

years; 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford’s contributions to the foreign operations and defense subcommittees of the Committee on 

Appropriations earned him a reputation as a ‘‘congressman’s congressman’’; 

Whereas in 1963, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Gerald R. Ford to the Warren Commission investigating the 

assassination of President John F. Kennedy; 

Whereas from 1965 to 1973, Gerald R. Ford served as minority leader of the House of Representatives; 

Whereas from 1974 to 1976, Gerald R. Ford served as the 

38th President of the United States, taking office at a 

dark hour in the history of the United States and returning the faith of the people of the United States in the 

Presidency through his wisdom, courage, and integrity; 

Whereas the Presidency of Gerald R. Ford is remembered for 

restoring trust and openness to the Presidency; 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 15 IH 

Whereas President Gerald R. Ford followed a steady, sensible 

course to cope with the Nation’s economic problems and 

during his Administration halted double-digit inflation 

and lowered unemployment; 

Whereas President Gerald R. Ford worked to solidify President Nixon’s accomplishments in China, bring representatives of Israel and Egypt to the conference table, and 

provide developmental assistance to poor countries; 

Whereas in 1975, under Gerald R. Ford’s leadership, the 

United States signed the Final Act of the Conference on 

Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly known as 

the ‘‘Helsinki Agreement’’, which ratified post-World 

War II European borders and supported human rights; 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford, together with Betty Ford, was 

awarded the Congressional Gold Metal in 1999 in recognition of dedicated public service and outstanding humanitarian contributions to the people of the United 

States; 

Whereas in 1999, Gerald R. Ford received the Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian award, for his role in 

guiding the Nation through the turbulent times of Watergate, the resignation of President Nixon, and the end of 

the Vietnam War, and for restoring integrity and public 

trust to the Presidency; 

Whereas since leaving the Presidency, Gerald R. Ford has 

been an international ambassador of American goodwill, 

a noted scholar and lecturer, and a strong supporter of 

the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, which was named for the former 

President in 1999; and 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
4 

•HRES 15 IH 

Whereas Gerald R. Ford’s life has been characterized by honesty, integrity, and dedication of purpose: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its appreciation for the profound 

3 public service of President Gerald Rudolph Ford; 

4 (2) tenders its deep sympathy to Betty Ford; to 

5 Michael, Jack, Steven, and Susan; and to the rest of 

6 the family of the former President; 

7 (3) directs that the eulogies offered concerning 

8 the life of the Honorable Gerald Rudolph Ford, 

9 former President of the United States, former Vice 

10 President of the United States, and former Rep11 resentative from the State of Michigan, be bound 

12 and printed as a House document; and 

13 (4) directs the Clerk of the House to transmit 

14 a copy of this resolution to the family of President 

15 Gerald Rudolph Ford. 

Æ 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS