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Ford Biography and Related Speech, 1953?
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Ford Biography and Related Speech, 1953?
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D14, folder "Ford Biography and Related
Speech, 1953?" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D14 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD, JR.
Representative of Fifth Congressional District of Michigan
Born July 14, 1913, Gerald R. Ford, Jr. spent
his childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he attended
local public elementary and high schools. He was an out-
standing high school athlete, winning all-city and all-state
honors in football.
At the University of Michigan, Jerry won three
varsity football letters during his undergraduate career.
in 193241933
A member of Michigan's undefeated national championship teams
he was selected Michigan's most valuable player in 1934.
He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. de-
He In his senior year Delta he was selected a member Mechigamua, the top honor society.
gree in 1935. OR January 1, 1935, Jerry traveled to San Fran-
was a member 3 Kappa Essilon paternity
cisco to play in the Shrine East West Crippled Children's
Benefit game and in august 1935 participated in The all Atar
Hame in Chicago against The Chicago Beara
Throughout his high school and college career,
Jerry held part time jobs in order to finance his schooling
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
2
Jerry entered Yale university Law School in 1935
where, in addition to his scholastic duties, he acted as
assistant varsity football coach under Head Coach Raymond
He also served as freshiman boxing cruch at yale University.
"Ducky" Pond. Jerry Ford received his degree in law from
Yale in 1941.. Fellowing his admission to the Michigan State
became a partner in
Bar in June of that year, Jerry joined the law firm of Ford
and Buchen Groud Rapids
In 1942 Jerry entered the U.S. Navy where he werved
47 months of active duty in World War II. Aboard the aircraft
carrier U.S.S. Monteray for two years, he participated in
all
mest of the 3rd and 5th fleet carrier operations from Sept.
1943 to Jan. 1945. Following shore duty with the Naval Aviation
Training Program, Jerry was released to inactive duty in January
of 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Returning to Grand Rapids, Jerry resumed his law prac-
tice with Butterfield, Keeney and Amberg, Grand Rapids law firm.
In 1948 he received the G.R. Junior Chamber of Commerce Award
for his active participation in various community projects such
BERRAL FORD LIBRARY
as Red Cross, Humane Society, Legal Aid Committee, Kent County
3
Cancer Society and many others.
Despite his busy
schedule, he has always found time to work on various local
find drives raising including campaigns
Red Cross, Red Feather and Community Chest
Drives. Jerry also holds active membership in the American
Legion, VFW and Amvets.
On October 15, 1948 Jerry married Elizabeth Warren of
Grand Rapids. The Fords now have two sons: Michael G. born
March 14, 1950 and John G. born March 16, 1952.
Jerry defeated Republican incumbent, Congressman
Bartel J. Jonkman, in the 1948 Republican primary by nearly
a two-to-one vote, and won the November election over his
Democratic opponent by over 27,000 votes. A majority of over
37.000 votes re-elected Jerry to the United States Congress in
1950. That same year, Jerry was awarded the Distinguished Service
Award by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce às one of the ten
outstanding young men in the U.S.
Jerry Ford's appointment during his first term of
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
office to the Committee on Public Works was followed by an
assignment to the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives. a
In As The member 82 ml of Congress the Civil Jerry Functions has sub- been a
member Committee The erry Card has had Funations the specific subcommetter task of investigating X The Emergency
agency subcommette of the Committee on approprations.
and keeping control of power and flood control projects throughout
the Nation.
Jerry has maintained an excellent attendance record of
over 97% during his two terms of office. His tenure is ex-
ceptional in that he has become known for his intense personal
interest in each individual problem in which the citizens of
his District have sought his help.
Leading the entire Republican ticket in two counties,
Congressional
Jerry was elected to his third term by more than a two-to-one
vote in 1952 1952,mith a majority of over 65, No notes.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
John O'Brien, Associate Automotive Editor
Detroit Times
Detroit, Michigan
In an expanding economy of which we here in America
boast so highly, it is imperative, in order to maintain
our standard of progress, to keep all commercial facil-
ities apace of demands. Fifty-three million vehicles
hum along the 3,200,000 miles of United States roads and
highways. Automobile sales records and Highway Dept.
statistics show that the number of vehicles on the road
increase amost daily. But at the same time, there is
no corresponding expansion in road building. The result
of this neglect is readily seen.
The millions of vehicles, both commercial and private
rely upon good roads for practical and convenient travel.
For without good roads the most perfect automobile or
truck is useless. Therefore, common sense demands that
even as automobiles and trucks are improved for safety,
speed and comfort, so must streets and highways be made
adequate for better travel. Necessarily, highway con-
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
struction and repair in our country is a major industry
as important to national economy as the steel industry
is to defense production.
Gradually, lumberingly we are coming to the day
of the modern expressway. But even where expressways
have been constructed, traffic has already far exceeded
any anticipated amount. Judging from the general con-
gestion and confusion, new roads are not being built
fast enough now are existing roads adequately repaired.
The job of keeping roads and highways up to a standard of
quality which will meet the requirements of an ever- in-
creasing number of vehicles travelling over U.S. roads
never inding
is one demanding constant vigilance.
This constant improvement of our highway system
means a savings to each and every American citizen.
Congestion on city streets and highways means lost time -
and time is money. For every truck which pokes along
behind a stream of traffic on a crowded highway,
the American public is being robbed of time and money.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
up to a standard of quality which will meed the require-
anever-increasing no.
ments of
vehicles travelling over U.S. roads
today, is one demanding constant vigilance.
Our highways have often been spoken of as the
lifelines of our nation. A more fitting comparison
has seldome been made. Suppose, for example, that one
of the main highways were closed. Transportation would
be seriously hampered. Equally and dangerous and critical
would be a system of highways which were not kept in con-
How many accidents have resulted from
stant
repair.
ppor lighting, ruts and KENNE holes, dangerous curves
and the many other highway hazards encountered on roads
which have not received the care our traffic demands?
In a highly commercial country such as ours we
cannot afford not to see to it that our roads and high-
ways are kept in perfect condition and are modernized
with every improvement engineers and technicians are able
to contrive. Keep your eyes In the roads. They are
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
vital to you and your country.
Fifth-three million vehicles hum along the 3,200,000
Those same
miles of United States roads and highways. / Fifty-three
million vehicles, both commercial and private, rely upon
good roads for practical and convenient travel. Without
most
good roads the / perfect automobile would be useless. Even
as aubomobiles and trucks are improved for safety, speed
and comfort, so must streets and highways be made adequate
for better travel.
In an expanding economy of which we here in America
boast so highly, it is imperative, in order to maintain
our standard of progress, to keep all commercial facilities
apace of demands. Highway construction and repair in our
country is a major industry AS Important to national econ-
omy as the steel industry is to defense production.
The urgent need for modern expressways has long
been realized. But, Even where expressways have been built,
traffic has already far exceeded any anticipated amount.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Without any doubt, the job of keeping roads and highways