Former President Gerald Ford, who became president in 1974 after the resignation of Richard Nixon, died Tuesday at age 93, his wife, Betty Ford, told The Associated Press.

From CNN

Seems to me he was the only President not elected? Is that correct?

(please don't bring up GWB)

Another question that this reminds me of is which presidents were elected by a minority of the people. That would mean with less than 50% of the voters voting at the election.

I think that GWB would be one but I think that Clinton got even less of the percentage of the votes. I think it was around 38%.

Redwood

No, Let me see if I get this right

John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry S.Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson were not elected.

I think Roosevelt served two terms so he must have been elected at least once.

Ford is the only President that was neither elected as Vice-President or President. Many believe the reason he lost to Jimmy Carter was because he pardoned Nixion. Had he not pardoned Nixion, he likely would have been elected in 1976.

President Ford is the first President I can remember. I remember riding in a pick-up truck with my step-dad and asking him who the President of the United States was and he told me President Ford. I am not sure what year that was buy I must have been 5, 6 or 7 years old since I was born in 1969.

Ford became President in 1974.

All the others you mentioned were elected Vice President, from which they ascended to the Presidency on the death of their running mate.

Ford was the only man never elected either President or Vice President to then serve as President.


As far as Presidents who received fewer votes than the one they defeated, that includes a number of people. I believe they include John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and George W. Bush(2000).

Eleven other Presidents had a plurality -- that is, more popular votes than their opponents, but fewer than 50% + 1.

Of the four minority Presidents listed above, only George W. Bush was elected to a second term, and only he ever received a majority of the popular vote in another Presidential election.

Stan said "not elected president". So I am correct. None of those men were elected president. No mention was made of vice presidencies.

I still say that Roosevelt was an elected president during his second term. Perhaps I am wrong. Does anyone know?

The History Channel had a great biography of Ford. He made a most memorable comment to the senate that struck me as humble and endearing. He said, "I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln..." meaning he wasn't going to compare himself to the great presidents, but he did promise to have brief speeches, with clarity.

Ted Kennedy publicly announced before Ford's death that his decision to pardon Nixon was the right one.

I think knowing that Ford valued his wife's opinions and did not consort with seers, harlots, interns, chinese fundraisers and the pope made him a blessing to the nation. Betty's open acceptance of abortions were a downside.

Just about half an hour ago, I saw on TV Commander Barry Black, the SDA Chaplain of the Senate, pronounce the benediction for the memorial ceremony held in the portico under the dome of the Senate building. It was a moving prayer, remembering a remarkable president.

Dick Chenney made a good point. When a man's critics biggest complaint is that the man was too forgiving, that is a good commentary on the person's charachter.