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Home , Gerald Ford, Spiro Agnew

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Birthplace site today A President's Roots The ornate Victorian house at 3202 On a hot and steamy , 1913, in Omaha Woolworth Avenue was one of the Leslie Lynch King, Jr., was born. finest homes in Omaha. The 3cstory, Soon the new mother took the lillie 14-room house reflected the status boy to live with her parents in Grand of its wealthy occupants, the King Rapids, . The King mar­ family. The King's only son Leslie . riage ended in divorce and in 1916 married Dorothy Gardner. In the Dorothy remarried. The 3-year old summer of 1913, the young couple boy was adopted by his stepfather, lived in this house with the senior and became Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. Kings, awaiting Dorothy's first child.

Formative Years • Honor student • Won 13 consecutive terms in • Football star the House of Representatives • Law degree, • In 1965,elected House • World War II officer in Pacific Minority Leader • Law practice in Grand Rapids • -Appointed Vice President, • Married Elizabeth (Belly) , 1973, after the Bloomm in 1948 resignation of • Elected to Congress in 1948

The Presidency When President In foreign policy, resigned on , 1974, Gerald continued detente with the Soviet Ford was sworn in as the 38th Union and made gains in arms President of the . control, human rights, and trade. He Faced with the , rising supported the joint Apollo-Soyuz inflation, the divisive Watergate issue, space flights. In 1975, Ford ruled out and a Congress eager to reassert its any intervention in Southeast Asia power over the executive branch, when fell to commu­ President Ford took charge during a nist North Vietnam troops. time of national crisis. President Ford In the 1976 presidential campaign, believed that through modest tax and Ford defeated for the spendin.g cuts, and deregulating Republican nomination, but then energy prices to stimulate production, narrowly lost to Democrat Jimmy he could contain both inflation and Carter in one of the closest elections unemployment. He did not hesitate in American history. to use the veto to control government spending.

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11\\1\\ 11111 \\111 \\11\11\1\II\! 1\\1\ 1\\11 1111 1\\1 Superfund ...• ..:ci:ltjoft;af\ti'filir;riltfgat;B~~rVall;'> COlorado, where the former president enjoys golf and skiing. The couple remains active on behalf of the Republican Party and charities. Gerald Ford serves on numerous corporate boards and is frequently on President and Mrs. Ford the sPeaking circuit. .<

The Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens

~;~1;;;;=~;~1~~~, Artist rendition ofbirthplace house In 1913 Rudy Evans In 1971, President Ford's birthplace information as well as presidential home was razed following a fire. Upon mementoes. Ford's succession to the presidency Mr. Paxson donated the birthsite and in 1974, Omaha businessman James gardens to the City of Omaha. M. Paxson purchased the property, Gerald Ford spoke at the September intending to build a memorial. . 21, 1977, dedication ceremony and University of architecture unveiled the centerpiece, a large student Gary L. Oubas of 9maha won white Georgian marble tablet inside the design competi~ion. The Dubas the colonnade with the inscription plan called for a garden scene of from his inaugural speech. walkways and shrubbery to mark the The following year, a rose garden was original elements of the former home. added on an adjacent lot. Conceived The Omaha architectural firm Schlott­ by Mr. Paxson; the rose garden Farrington and Associates added a honored former First Lady , colonnade modeled after the south and represented yet another link to portico of the White House, thereby the White House. On July 12, 1980, linking the president's birthplace to his the Fords returned to Omaha to home in Washington, D.C. A kiosk, dedicate the rose garden, which has representing the stately turret of the 400 rose bushes of many varieties. original home, contains birthsite

Directions to the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens m and Gardens ---rEt: The Gerald R. Ford · Birthsite and Gardens is operated by Omaha's' Department of Parks, Recreation, and Public ~ I Hanscom Park Property. It is open -g daily at no charge.· 1ll This brochure was prepared by the Center Street. National Park Service, with the assistance of Rudy Evans, for the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation. Ed Creighton Ave. To 1·80

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