Mardikian, George M.” of the Gerald and Betty Ford Special Materials Collection at the Gerald R
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The original documents are located in Box C3, folder “Mardikian, George M.” of the Gerald and Betty Ford Special Materials Collection 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. Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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. GEORGE M. MARDIKIAN ENTERPRISES RE PR.:'SIDENT HAS I l1, November 10, 1976 Honorable Gerald R. Ford c/o Firestone Estate Palm Springs, Ca. My dear Mr. President: The enclosed article indicates that we have never lost faith in you, that you are still our champion. In spite of my wife's illness, we were glued to the televi sion until the final blow. It was heartbreaking, but perhaps it was an act of God that saved you more problems. This will give you a chance to enjoy your wonderful family. We were so proud of the First Lady when she read your message to President-elect Carter. So whoever voted for him, in all my letters I write I tell them to prepare to eat nothing but "Carter sandwiches" - peanut butter and baloney. One place that will never be served will be Omar Khayyam's, you can be sure of that! I just want you to know that every time I give a talk - one of which was just yesterday to a local Sons in Retirement branch - I have an even greater understanding of people's respect and admiration for you, which will never cease. As time goes on people will recognize what a tragedy it was to not have you as our leader for another four years. But maybe this will be a lesson f.or all those who are concerned about the future of our great country, that we should go out of our way to do everything humanly possible to retain this wonderful privilege left to us on a silver platter. My whole family joins me in wishing you, Mrs. Ford and the children all that is best in this world - happiness, health and all the joys of life. May God bless you always. With great admiration, I remain, Always affectionately, George M. Mardikian GMM: le Enclosure e 240 STOCKTON ST., 4TH PLOOI e SAN PIANCISCO, CALIP. 94101 • (415) 986-0785-(415) 362-3903 • ~ !'CtN .,na t!onP,r l 1• 1t..1 ,1 , ,, I \ 1 , ,, .. 1',,,or SATURDAY, FEBRl:ARY 28, 19i6 Patriot Boosts American Spirit By KAREN GREENE Staff Reporter Great Americans aren't Nearly penniless, he got a born. they're grown, contends job in Coffee Dan's, a San George Mardikian, an Armeni Francisco basement restau an import and superpatriot rant. and took home $12 a week whose flag-waving faith in his for his dishwashing labors. adopted country has never Other jobs followed until Mar waned. d ikian and his wife, Naz. Since taking root in San opened a small place called Francisco in 1922, Mardikian Omar Khayyam's where they has become one of America·s served Armenian dishes. classic success stories. Never ·After several other restau one to forget his gratitude to rant ventures. Mardikian On a recent visit of President Ford to San Francisco, both Mr. and the "land of opportunity", he walked into the old Coffee Mrs. George Mardikian were invited to a reception as friends. Mr. spends much of his time travel Dan's in 1938 and 15 minutes ing cross-country, singing his later he owned it. This senti Mardikian (second from right) asked President Ford to meet his song of America. The noted mental location is presently "other President", Mr. Arch Monson, the National President of the author and philanthropist is in the base of the entrepreneur's Boy Scouts of America. This was a great meeting because all three Charleston this weekend to operations. speak at the annual convention gentlemen are Eagle Schouts; the hi1;hest .rank in Scouting; and, "There is, what I call, one all three are also wearers of the Silver Buffalo, Scouting's highest of the .South Carolina Home sacred table in the place,'' he Economists Assn. says, with a sly grin. "Even award. Mrs. Mardikian looks on, wearing her Nefertiti pin. A self-proclaimed trouble when the restaurant is full, Page 2, The Armenian Observer, March 3, 1976 ·maker, Mardikian explains his that table is empty. It marks surname means "son of a war the exact location where I rior". "My war is against pov washed dishes." erty and disloyalty. My main Besides managing his restau et," he jokes. "And, I've been an makes his opinions Known . objective in life is to go around rant. Mardikian has served as fooling them for 15 years." He is also author of "Dinner at the country and disavow the a food consultant to the U.S. A scout for more than 60 Omar Khayyam's" and "Song bearers of malcontent and ped Army from 1942 through 1954 years. Mardikian stresses his of America", his autobiogra dlers of gloom. That's why I'm and continues his active work faith in the vouth of America phy. still holding 30 pounds of extra with food-relief programs in and extols the virtues of voca His recipe for success lists weight," he says with a wink. needv countries. For his serv tiona I training, as well as liter hard work as the main ingre "When I step on them, I want ice. he is the recipient of nu ary know-how. dient. "First. have faith in them to feel it." merous awards, including the "Not all youngsters are born yourself. Put your utmost trust A veteran of his native coun• Medal of Freedom, America's to become doctors, lawyers or in America, the hope of the trv·s battles with the Turks, highest civilian honor. engineers," he observes. world and all freedom-loving Mardikian became a guerilla •·some want to work with their peoples. Add to this a faith in A favorite medal, he points God. Combine everything and at the age of 15. After a capture out, is the Boy Scouts' "Silver hands. Americans, · I believe, and subsequent escape, he left are natural mechanics." back it all with hard work - Buffalo" award. "It's usually you can't miss." Constantinople for America given to Presidents or those As a contributor to several only hours before the Turks who are about the buck- national publications. M:ardiki- came to re-arrest him. to kick Mon., Aug. 16, 197 6 "It is unbelievable what the first sight of that lady with the torch means to those who come searching, not so much for security as for something beautiful that hardly exists any place-human dignity. I can tell you that I fell In love 'It isn't with her then and have been carrying on an unashamed love affair with her for 54 years." enough to Mardlklan is a multi-mil lionaire now, owner of several working ranches, a string of radio stations, large parcels dream, you of metropolitan real estate, a have to ly Joan McKinney worlc' valuable art collection and a whole collection of awards for humanitarianism. But he never wants to forget the days when it was not like that-the World War I years in Armenia, when he saw his rather killed before his eyes and his people decimated by the Turks. And the post-war years when, after working for Tribune photo by ROBERT STINNETT Herbert Hoover's food relief program in the Caucasus re George M ardikian stands in fron t of the restaurant where he once :1lon, he finally escaped fur washed dishes and which he has owned now for nearly 40 years ther · attacks on Armenians 1nd boarded a Greek refugee ;hip bound for New York. To must Bay Area residents, George A bowl of American pennies Mardikian is known as the genial host of sits on the coffee table in Omar Khavvam 's, the restaurallt that has rront of a sofa In his office been dispensing the cuisine of his native overlooking Union Square. It Mardikian country, Armenia, since 1938. ;;hares pride of place with an American flag and signed pic To ex-servicemen of Wo rld War II tures of five Presidents (Hoo ver , Eisenhower , Johnson, and the Korean conflict, he is f ond{1 1 ~lxon, Ford) , the Shah of Iran remembered as the man who made the and the late King Faisal of difference in Army cooking, in his :,audl Arabia. Has Made capacity as food consultant. "Let me tell you the story behind those pennies, " says And to the manr thousands who have Mardlklan, a nattily-dressed read his books · ("Dinner al Omar septuagenarian in black suit Khai•vam 's." "Song of America.") anJ violet shirt ,rnd hantlkerchief heard him speak. he is the super-patnot wearing the Bicentennial sym His Mark bol and a Boy Scout tenderfool personi{ted, the tireless booster of the pin In his lapel, a silver buffa United States of America, which he .first lo (highest Boy Scout order ) saw as an immigrant in 1922. He still tie clip. likes tu talk about If.