Hey y’all! Happy Tuesday!
Today actually marks the 1st week since we set out on this trip… time flies by doesn’t it?
Yesterday, we visited both the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids AND the Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor, both in Michigan, as well as other sights in Detroit.
Even if Jerry Ford was only president for about two years, he still played a very crucial role in healing the nation after Watergate, and restoring our national dignity. Let’s further into the life and times of our 38th Commander In Chief, and only president to hail from Michigan.
Gerald Ford Museum
A short 10 minute drive from our hotel in Grandville (a small town outside of Grand Rapids.. its the same thing technically), we arrived in Grand Rapids, the second largest town in Michigan.
Grand Rapids is situated on both sides of the river…it’s fascinating, especially when there is not the side of a bridge blocking your view.
A friend of mine back at Canyon High School lived in Michigan before, and had been to the museum. He told me that it was difficult to find the parking, as it was hidden, and that it “Jumps out at you like a rat in your underwear drawer.” I’m not going to ask how he got that description.
Eventually however, we found it!
Gerald Ford Presidential Museum
It’s a very gorgeous place no?
Both the Library and Museum are in different locations, but it’s the museum that contains most of the exhibits. And this is certainly a fantastic facility to host said exhibits.
And here’s the main man himself, Jerry Ford.
Inside the building was another piece of the Berlin Wall. We’ve seen a number of these throughout the country, including at the Reagan, Truman, and Bush Libraries.
All of the exhibits were located on the second floor, so lets head on up!
Gerald Ford was raised by his strict but kind Mother and Step-father, and was an eagle scout. Presumably it was from here that young Jerry learned to not only be humble and honest, but also controlling his temper.
Naturally, Jerry was not only an avid eagle scout, but also a lover of athletics! He was definitely one of our more fit presidents in his youth.
His football career was especially notable, and was at one point awarded MVP! He played for numerous teams, but what stuck out the most was when Ford’s team was going to play against a team from the south. The southern team refused to play until Willis Ward, an African-American playing on Ford’s team, would sit out of the game. Ford, furious, declared that he would not play if Willis was going to sit out, but Willis insisted that Ford take his place. With reluctance, Jerry substituted for him, and won their only game of the season. Even at that age, Jerry Ford had an integrity that would become instrumental to the politics of the modern era, and to the country.
This was his army coat and his medals, and the sextant he occasionally used as a navigator. Ford of course, joined the Navy when duty called to fight in the Pacific Front in WWII. Stationed as a Lieutenant on the USS Monterrey, the ship was heavily damaged, with fires ablaze, debris flying, and the Monterrey tilting to one side. Ford barely managed to continue hanging on for dear life, but thankfully survived.
Soon enough, he met Betty Bloomer, a vivid dancer, and were married after a couple of years. They made a nice couple!
Ford soon rose through the ranks, and became a prominent member of the House of Representatives, even to become the Speaker of the House! This was his desk during his tenure there.
Ford’s integrity was well known throughout Washington, so that when Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned amidst allegations of corruption, President Richard Nixon appointed Ford to replace Agnew as VP. The document above is a facsimile of the confirmation of the appointment, and the bible is the one that Ford swore his oath upon… both as Vice President, and later as President.
When the controversies of Watergate began to become a threat to the president, Nixon resigned his office, the only president to do so. President Ford was sworn in the following afternoon.
Ford had to help restore the trust in the Government following Watergate, and perhaps the most difficult decision of his early administration was whether or not to pardon Nixon, who had a chance of being tried on the Federal Court. If Nixon wasn’t pardoned, the procedures would follow, and embitterment would remain for perhaps years. If Nixon was pardoned however, it would be an unpopular decision, but it would put the country on the way of moving past Watergate. Ford did what he had to do.
He pardoned Nixon a month after he was sworn in, and was met with widespread criticism and unpopularity. Though it may have cost him his reelection, in mindset, it may have been what was best.
Ford was a welcome change in the White House despite the pardoning, and regularly held press conferences with reporters, who saw Ford as more open than a number of his predecessors, Nixon especially.
Most Presidential Libraries, including Ford’s, have a replica of the Oval Office during that period. It’s a nice color scheme!
Ford was also considered something of a klutz. Once, when walking down the plane steps to meet a foreign dignitary, he fell down the wet steps, as seen right here. A few weeks later, he tripped again going up.
Another interesting story is when he visited San Antonio with it’s mayor, and was given a Tamale to eat. Of course, politicians want to eat local food to seem more natural to residents, but Ford, not knowing how to eat a Tamale, bit into the entire thing, husk and all. He nearly choked… sigh, its the thought that counts.
Ford was still active during his term, as shown by his golf and tennis equipment.
One thing that was fascinating is that this museum had a replica of the Cabinet Room, which taught you the seating protocol. I imagine that Ford had to meet with his cabinet regularly to discuss matters of the day, or national emergencies.
Ford certainly restored honor to the name of “The President” to the office. Easing relations with the Soviet Union at the Helsinki Accords, combating inflation, and enacting conservation laws, he covered issues that both sides of politics could compromise on. Whatever he did, he didn’t do it with flash or style. While blunt, he was certainly what the country needed.
Betty Ford’s honesty was legendary as well. Having a history of substance abuse to cope with her loneliness, she came out into the open, talked freely of difficult subjects such as her breast cancer and interventions. The Betty Ford Clinic was established in her name to help other women cope with substance abuse, so they could lead healthy lives.
While Ford lost a chance for reelection to Jimmy Carter, he continued to be an advisor to later Presidents, and a hero to many for his patriotism and great respect for youth leadership.
He even won the Congressional Gold Medal for his service, the highest civilian award the U.S. Congress can bestow upon a person! This medal is very gorgeous.
Outside, there was only one thing left to do. Visit the gravesite.
Without a doubt one of the most humble gravesites I’ve ever seen,
Ford was the most recent president to die, that being in 2006. He lived a very long life, and until recently being surpassed by George H.W. Bush, the longest lived President in the U.S.
Thank god that Jerry Ford was there when Integrity was needed most. He gave his own sacrifices to see liberty and peace reign on the bicentennial of the founding of the U.S. In times like these, we need more people who are willing to do what is right, and pave the way to better relations between peoples.
We then got our 7th stamp!
The cashier told us that there was actually a special certificate and a crystal paperweight with the Presidential Library System Label on it should you get all the stamps! Now I’m more motivated than ever to finish my quest!
Other Sights in and near Detroit
Leaving the city, we drove two hours to Ann Arbor, where we found the Gerald Ford Library… closed.
Darn.
Oh well, it only had a couple of exhibits anyway, and it was more of a research facility. But still, would’ve been nice to see inside.
Without further delay, we went on to Detroit, where we decided to scout the area.
First, with a bit of time on our hands, we decided to go to the MoTown Museum, to see if we could knock out one thing on our timeline.
That too was closed. Apparently, they are not open on Mondays. Better luck today i think!
Dad of course was beaming with excitement, and he got tons of pictures!
Then, we went to see if the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant was open. This plant was the very first built by Henry Ford to create automobiles.
We’ve a streak of bad luck today. THIS WASN’T OPEN EITHER! And whats worse, BOTH Monday and Tuesday!
Well… I guess thats off the list… still, we got some neat pictures of the magnitude. Just imagine back in the day when this was fully operational!
And so we figured, if the Henry Ford will take an entire half day, there was one last thing we could do!
The Ford Family Cemetery, where Henry Ford himself is interred.
Took us a while to find it, and its very hidden and casual. I wouldn’t be surprised if people drive by it all the time never knowing what it was.
On the grounds of the church, the gate was unlocked.
There he is! Its a nice grave, in a very small cemetery.
Around the cemetery of course, were dozen of other Fords. It must be a pretty big family.
So in truth, yesterday was truly a FORD day.
After arriving in nearby Dearborn and getting our hotel room, and ordering pizza for a pizza party to ourselves, we went to bed. Today happens to be a big day! The Henry Ford Museum, which i’ll explain in the next post, and the Motown Museum are up ahead!
I bid you farewell for now!
Mark's Historical Roadtrips! 