PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/23/1983 - HFSID 76130

GERALD R. FORD
Gerald R. Ford sends a typed letter to a ninth grade class of encouragement.
Typed Letter Signed: "Gerald R. Ford", 1p, 7x10½. No place, 1983 March 23. To Mrs. Claudia Serpico, Freehold, New Jersey. On stationery embossed with a gilt presidential seal at top center. In full: "Will you please extend my very best wishes to your 9th grade Social Studies students. I congratulate them on their interest in the serious challenges facing our Nation at home and hope they will all actively participate in governmental affairs at the local, state and national levels to resolve our domestic problems. I strongly believe we in the United States have the finest form of government and the best economic system in the world. It isn't perfect, but it can get better if we all work to make it so. In the process of being active in community affairs or in business, I hope all of your students will have respect for the convictions of others and faith in the decency of others. They should always remember to disagree without being disagreeable. Enclosed is an autographed photograph for your class [not present] Warmest, best wishes". 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 also lived to age 93) as the longest-lived former U.S. President. Horizontal fold at lower blank margin. Fine condition.