IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 409 
Celebrating the life of President Gerald R. Ford on what would have been 
his 96th birthday. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 6, 2009 
Mr. EHLERS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Celebrating the life of President Gerald R. Ford on what 
would have been his 96th birthday. 
Whereas Gerald Rudolph Ford was born on July 14, 1913, 
in Omaha, Nebraska; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was educated in Michigan public 
schools, and graduated from the University of Michigan 
in 1935 with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and 
political science; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was a gifted athlete, playing on the 
University of Michigan’s national championship football 
teams in 1932 and 1933, and being voted the team’s 
most valuable player in 1934; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford graduated from Yale Law School in 
1941 in the top 25 percent of his class; 
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•HRES 409 IH 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford joined the United States Naval Re-
serves in 1942 and served valiantly on the U.S.S. Mon-
terey in the South Pacific Theater in World War II; 
Whereas Lieutenant Commander Gerald R. Ford was honor-
ably released from active duty in February 1946, having 
been awarded an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 
one silver star and four bronze stars, a Philippine Libera-
tion Ribbon with two bronze stars, an American Cam-
paign Medal, and a World War II Victory Medal; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford and Elizabeth (‘‘Betty’’) Anne 
Bloomer were married on October 15, 1948, and cele-
brated 58 years together; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford have four children, 
Michael, Jack, Steven, and Susan, seven grandchildren, 
and five great-grandchildren; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford was elected to Congress in 1948, 
and served 13 honorable terms of office from January 3, 
1949 to December 6, 1973; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford’s contributions to the Foreign Oper-
ations and Defense Subcommittees of the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives earned 
him a reputation as a ‘‘Congressman’s Congressman’’; 
Whereas Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Gerald R. Ford to 
the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination 
of President John F. Kennedy; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford served as minority leader of the 
House of Representatives from 1965 to 1973; 
Whereas upon the resignation of Spiro Agnew and following 
confirmation by the Congress, Gerald R. Ford was ap-
pointed by President Richard M. Nixon as Vice President 
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•HRES 409 IH 
Whereas in 1981, Gerald R. Ford saw the dedication of the 
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, 
Michigan, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum 
in Grand Rapids, Michigan; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford received the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom in 1999, the Nation’s highest civilian award, for 
his role in guiding the Nation through the turbulent 
times of the Watergate scandal, the resignation of Presi-
dent Nixon, and the end of the Vietnam War, and for re-
storing integrity and public trust to the Presidency; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford were together 
awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999 in rec-
ognition of their dedicated public service and outstanding 
humanitarian contributions to the people of the United 
States; 
Whereas upon leaving the Presidency, Gerald R. Ford was an 
international ambassador of American goodwill, a noted 
scholar and lecturer, and a strong supporter of the Ger-
ald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of 
Michigan, which was named for the former President in 
1999; 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford chose Grand Rapids, Michigan, as 
the home of his Presidential Museum and his final rest-
ing place; and 
Whereas Gerald R. Ford’s life was characterized by honesty, 
integrity, and dedication of purpose: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 409 IH 
(1) celebrates the extraordinary life of Gerald 
Rudolph Ford, and expresses its deepest apprecia-
tion for his profound public service; 
(2) recognizes the significance of Gerald R. 
Ford’s Presidency, and his legacy of substantial con-
tribution to the United States and to the peoples of 
the world; 
(3) recognizes the significance and loving sup-
port of Betty Ford as his confidant and First Lady; 
and 
(4) directs the Clerk of the House of Represent-
atives to transmit a copy of this resolution to the 
family of President Gerald R. Ford, the Gerald R. 
Ford Presidential Museum, and the Gerald R. Ford 
Library at the University of Michigan. 
Æ 
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