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7342808
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Residence-Tennis-to the Church, Sarasota, Florida [Pool Report]
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1
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id
7342808
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contentType
document
title
Residence-Tennis-to the Church, Sarasota, Florida [Pool Report]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7342808
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29
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1976-02-29
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2
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1976
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3d65966346cccca9
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Digi zed from Box 22 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
POOL REPORT
Residence - Tennis -to the Church
February 29
Sarasota, Florida
The President emerged from his residence right on time at
8:55 a.m. The house was field stone with front colonade but
not the most expensive nor classy on the block. The President
was wearing white tennis cap, glasses which he wore throughout
the tennis match, white jacket, white shorts and he had two
elastic knee supporters, one on each knee. He was carrying
a tennis racquet which turned out to be black aluminum which
he used in both matches.
He began playing tennis at the Field Club (reportedly originally
built by the Marshall Field of Chicago) at 9:05 and played
for approximately one hour. Pool was allowed to photograph
and observe warmup volleys at court side. Then pool was kept
behind viewers gallery of some 100 persons.
In the first set the President's partner was Dana Rollings,
his Florida state finance committee chairman. Their opponents
were the club pro John Lawrence and Bill Getzen the owner
of the home in which the Fords spent the night. The President's
team lost their match 4-6.
The second set was also lost by the President and partner 4-6.
His partner in the second set was Bob VanLede, the Tennis
Chairman of the Field Club. Their opponents were Congressman
Lou Frey (a rather good player) and Bill Korp a local attorney
who is the President's campaign chairman in the Sarasota area.
The President's game has improved somewhat since you saw him
at Mackinac Island. He has a fairly consistent serve which
is perhaps the strongest part of his game. His net play in
doubles is somewhat less consistent. (He tends to foot fault
on the serves when he is tired.) Mr. Ford also tends to try
to hit the ball before he plants his feet. He can hit some
fairly good shots but again not consistently.
After the games the President signed autographs and drank
Gatorade. He also posed for pictures. It should also be
noted the crowd was with him as he played and applauded him
when he hit a good shot or scored a point. He left and someone
said good luck.
Returned to residence at about 10:20.
One pooler heard the President say after tennis, "I didn't
play very well, but I had fun."
Fords emerged from house at 10:57, 12 minutes late. They were
presented with gifts by the family of 2 kids, Mr. and Mrs.
Jack Kahn, a local resort owner. President received a bicen-
tenial tie, Mrs. Ford a bouquet of rose buds and baby's breath,
and they were presented with a bottle of vintage champagne.
While waiting for the President to emerge, Nessen told the
pool that the President had a swim in backyard pool and
breakfast before going off for tennis. Nessen also confirmed
MORE
2
that the President will overnight in Peoria and that
next weekend Illinois trip will be concentrated in the
traditional downstate Republican counties. Nessen was
again asked whether the President was wearing a bullet proof
vest yesterday and he said the White House never talks
about those sorts of things but when again questioned he smiled
knowingly saying, "That's what's known as a confirming grin."
The First Lady was wearing a white knit dress with hem slightly
below the knees. She was carrying white kid gloves and
matching white leather purse.
Walt Rodgers
Tom DeFrank
Hal Benedict
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