Gerald Ford, who died in 2006, is much honored and respected as a President who came into office at a tough time, replacing the resigned Richard Nixon in 1974.
Having decided to seek a full term, Ford spent some time in September 1975 in California, the home base of former California Governor Ronald Reagan, who had decided to challenge Ford for the 1976 GOP Presidential nomination.
So Ford was in Sacramento on this day in 1975, and in San Francisco on September 22, 1975, and no one had a clue as to what was going to happen!
Ford became the ONLY President to face TWO assassination attempts, within 17 days of each other, and the ONLY President to face death threats from TWO WOMEN!
Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme, a follower of the cult murderer Charles Manson, was the first assassin wannabe, and Sara Jane Moore was the second assassin wannabe, and both times, Ford was able to avoid being wounded or killed, and in a sense, became a hero for having “ducked” very well, bringing to public attention his having played football for the University of Michigan in the 1930s!
Ford would go on to become the GOP nominee by a small margin at the Republican convention of 1976, and would lose a very close race to former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.
As the years went by, Ford came to be regarded more highly than when he was in office, not uncommon for Presidents, and this author enjoyed his visit to the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan in July, and uncovered an error on the first assassination threat date, September 5, informed the Director of the Ford Museum, and it was arranged for the error to be corrected, just in time for the 38th Anniversary today of the most dangerous month in the life of our 38th President, Gerald Ford!
Hello Professor,
I was in San Diego with the Navy for the second part of my training when Squeaky Fromme made her attempt to kill Ford. I remember that day well because of her Charles Manson connection.
President Ford was an honorable man.
Eugene, you and I totally agree on Gerald Ford. I just wish the Republican Party today followed the traditions and principles and decency of Gerald Ford, but he would NOT be welcome in the Republican Party of 2013, which is all the way to the RIGHT, and is not out to promote the public good, but only “Get” Obama, and impeach him if they can muster the votes, even though there is no just cause for impeachment. But this is the mentality of the GOP of 2013!