President Gerald Ford President Ford was a football standout and a World War II soldier. Sports Heroes Who Served is a documentary series that showcases the achievements of athletes who have served in the United States military. Ford previously stated that his football exploits helped prepare him for the "rough-and-tumble world of politics."
He played center for the Michigan Wolverines from 1946 to 1949 and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 1950 NFL Draft. Ford went on to have a successful political career, serving as vice president from 1974 to 1977 and as president from 1976 to 1977. He died in September 2006 at the age of 93.
Ford's wife, Betty, also served as vice president from 1981 to 1985. She died in April 2014 at the age of 92.
Their daughter, Susan, was an Olympic gold medalist and former University of Texas swimmer. She married John B. Connally Jr., son of U.S. Senator John B. Connally, in 1958. Senator Connally was responsible for introducing President Ford to society after he recovered from surgery following the assassination attempt in 1975.
Susan Connally died in August 2015 at the age of 60.
Gerald R. Ford's birthday is February 11th and he was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents were Francis A. Ford and Agatha (Duggan) Ford.
Gerald Ford was one of five presidents who attended collegiate football games. (Photo: Getty Images) It's Presidents' Day, so what better way to recognize all of the men who have served as Presidents of the United States than to set them against one other and rank them?
Presidents who have participated in team sports, such as George H.W. Bush or Dwight Eisenhower, tend to take a team approach to the presidency, leaning more largely on cabinet secretaries and White House aides for advice, according to Watterson. In comparison,...
Gerald Ford was one of five presidents who attended collegiate football games. (Photo: Getty Images) It's Presidents' Day, so what better way to recognize all of the men who have served as Presidents of the United States than to set them against one other and rank them?
Kennedy, an ardent golfer and letter-winning swimmer at Harvard, was one of the most athletic presidents in American history. Kennedy was hardly the only head of state who excelled in sports. Here are the top ten most athletic presidents...
With that in mind, let's take a look at the top presidents of the United States who also enjoyed athletics.
Gerald Ford
| Gerald Ford | |
|---|---|
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9 campaign stars) World War II Victory |
| College football career | |
| No. 48 |
Ronald Reagan as a member of the Eureka College football team in 1929. Many people associate Ronald Reagan with college football because of his depiction of Notre Dame's outstanding halfback, George Gipp, in the 1940 film "Knute Rockne: All-American," but Reagan was also a real-life college football player.
Gerald Ford was one of five presidents who attended collegiate football games. (Photo: Getty Images)
Gerald R. Ford was a three-year letterman who played for the University of Michigan's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933. In 1934, he was named the Wolverines' most valuable player. Gerald R. Prior to entering the University of Michigan, Gerald R.
With Ford on the team, the Wolverines won the Big Ten Conference championships in 1932 and 1933. Ford graduated from Michigan in 1935 and went on to participate in the College All-Star Game against the NFL champion Chicago Bears. He turned down offers from both the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers to play in the NFL.
Several future presidents played football in high school and college as young men. Other Presidents have joyfully taken on the role of first fan, entertaining football teams, watching parties, and sports journalists at the White House.
Several future presidents played football in high school and college as young men. Other Presidents have joyfully taken on the role of first fan, entertaining football teams, watching parties, and sports journalists at the White House.
Richard Nixon was the first sitting president to attend an NFL game during the regular season. On November 16, 1969, President Nixon attended a football game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C. Nixon was a tremendous sports lover.
It is an examination that not only reveals the influence of sport in politics, but also questions and stretches some of our basic political beliefs. Even before he entered the White House, Barack Obama was dubbed the "Sports President." Now, as he prepares to leave office after two terms, can he be considered a success on this front?
Obama has made it clear that he believes his job as president was not just to win elections but to improve people's lives through public policy. This includes improving education, health care, and other aspects of their lives through the use of his executive power. He also believes that his role included promoting and encouraging youth athletics - especially among minorities and women.
As you might expect from a politician who grew up playing basketball, Obama loves sports and takes them seriously. He is known to watch game videos during presidential debates to learn how to act more athletic. He has also invited sports heroes to the White House to celebrate their achievements. Most recently, this included basketball legend Michael Jordan who attended one of Obama's annual black tie awards ceremonies in 2016.
Obama has also used his position to encourage young people from all backgrounds and countries to get involved in sports. He did this by creating positions at the State Department with the aim of boosting international understanding through sports. One of these positions is the coordinator for educational initiatives within the department's bureau of educational and cultural affairs.
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