Gerald Ford Was Born On This Day in 1913: Navy Man, President, Pipe Smoker
Posted July 14 — In honor of his birthday
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. was born on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska. Raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he went on to become the 38th President of the United States—and the only one to hold both the presidency and vice presidency without being elected to either. He is also remembered for his athletic background, military service, and lifelong enjoyment of pipe smoking.
Early Life & Navy Service
Ford was a standout football player at the University of Michigan, where he helped lead the team to national championships in 1932 and 1933. After graduating, he earned a law degree from Yale and briefly worked as a coach and attorney.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Ford joined the U.S. Navy in 1942. He was commissioned as an ensign and assigned to the USS Monterey, a light aircraft carrier in the Pacific. He served in several campaigns during World War II, including operations in the Philippines, and was aboard during Typhoon Cobra in 1944—a massive storm that damaged or sank multiple ships in the fleet. Ford left the service in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant commander.
Congressional Career
In 1948, Ford was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Michigan’s 5th district. He served in Congress for 25 years, eventually becoming House Minority Leader in 1965. He also served on the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Vice Presidency & Presidency
In 1973, following the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew, President Nixon nominated Ford as his replacement. Ford was sworn in as Vice President on December 6, 1973, and became President of the United States on August 9, 1974, after Nixon’s own resignation.
During his time in office, Ford dealt with economic challenges, the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Cold War diplomacy, and two assassination attempts. He also signed the Helsinki Accords in 1975, a major international agreement. He ran for re-election in 1976 but lost to Jimmy Carter.
A President with a Pipe
Ford began smoking a pipe while serving in the Navy — a pastime with a long history among sailors, myself included. Back in the days of “wooden ships and iron men,” traditional navy tobaccos like rope and twist were well-suited to life at sea, and pipe smoking became part of daily shipboard routine. The tradition still lingers, though in today’s U.S. Navy, it’s only after the shipboard announcement “the smoking lamp is lighted!” But anyway — back to President Ford.
Throughout his public life, Ford was frequently seen with a pipe. Photographs from his years in Congress and the White House often show him holding or clenching one. He preferred straight pipes and mild aromatic blends, including one known as Field & Stream Walnut. He once mentioned owning around 35 pipes, and his pipe rack was a regular fixture in the Oval Office. He even brought tobacco aboard Air Force One during official travel. The pipe remained a visible and familiar part of his public image throughout much of his career.
Post-Presidency & Later Years
After leaving office in 1977, Ford remained active through speaking engagements, nonprofit work, and the release of his memoir, A Time to Heal. In 1999, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
He passed away on December 26, 2006, at the age of 93, and was buried at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
At a Glance
- Born: July 14, 1913, Omaha, Nebraska
- Military Service: U.S. Navy, 1942–1946 (Pacific Theater)
- Political Career: Congressman (1949–1973), Vice President (1973–1974), President (1974–1977)
- Pipe Smoking: Began in the Navy; preferred straight pipes and aromatic blends
- Died: December 26, 2006, Rancho Mirage, California
Happy Birthday, President Ford.