PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED - HFSID 148249

FORD SIGNS A ENVELOPE COMMEMORATING A STOP ON THE ROUTE OF THE AMERICAN FREEDOM TRAIN
 
GERALD FORD. Commemorative Envelope signed: "Gerald Ford", 6½x3¾. Cover honoring the American Freedom Train, 13-cent "One Nation Indivisible" stamp affixed, pictorially postmarked San Antonio, TX, February 11, 1976. This envelope, postmarked during Ford's presidency (1974-1977), honors the American Freedom Train, which was viewed by over seven million Americans during its trip through the 48 states from April 21, 1975-December 31, 1976. Created in honor of the nation's bicentennial, the train, powered by attention-getting steam engines, brought over 500 artifacts from American history to the country's people in cars that people could walk through and other cars that featured "display" windows to showcase larger items. Ironically, when America celebrated its 200th birthday, neither her President nor Vice President had been elected by the people; Ford had succeeded Nixon upon his resignation, while Vice President Nelson Rockefeller had been appointed by Ford. On August 9, 1974, Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006) was sworn in as the nation's 38th President following the resignation of Richard Nixon. Ford had previously served as Nixon's Vice President (December 6, 1973-August 9, 1974) following the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew, becoming the only man to have held both of the nation's highest offices without being elected to either. Ford, who was previously a U.S. Congressman from Michigan (1949-1973; Minority Leader, 1965-1973), lost his bid for election to a full four-year term partially as a result of his controversial pardon of his predecessor. Ford, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999, celebrated his 93rd birthday on July 14, 2006. Before his death on December 26, 2006, Ford had surpassed Ronald Reagan (who had also lived to age 93) as the longest-lived former U.S. President. Slightly creased. Light stain (barely visible) at lower right margin from removal of address label. Fine condition.