PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED - HFSID 148250

GERALD FORD
Gerald Ford signs a commemorative envelope honoring "Battleground of Freedom"
Commemorative Envelope signed: "Gerald Ford", 6½x3¾. Cover honoring "Battleground of Freedom/1776-1976", metered postage from Spartansburg, South Carolina, January 2, 1976. This envelope was postmarked during Ford's presidency (1973-1977) in America's bicentennial year. 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. Staple holes at upper blank margin. Fine condition.