[Jody M]

Former President Gerald R. Ford, 93, died peacefullly Tuesday at 6:45pm December 26th in his home in California.

A quote from ABC News reporter Jeff Wilson, Associated Press 2006, regarding his adoptee status:

He was born Leslie King on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Neb. His parents were divorced when he was less than a year old, and his mother returned to her parents in Grand Rapids, where she later married Gerald R. Ford Sr. He adopted the boy and renamed him.

Ford was a high school senior when he met his biological father. He was working in a Greek restaurant, he recalled, when a man came in and stood watching.

"Finally, he walked over and said, `I'm your father,'" Ford said. "Well, that was quite a shock." But he wrote in his memoir that he broke down and cried that night and he was left with the image of "a carefree, well-to-do man who didn't really give a **** about the hopes and dreams of his firstborn son."

[mj77]

I had no idea he was an adoptee. Wow.

[amyfk]

I thought I had remembered reading somewhere that Ford was an adoptee(though not orphaned). It is sad of the feelings he had of his biological father.

Amy K, NJ

[Jody M]

I agree Amy about Gerald Ford's reaction to his birth father- It is sad that he met him under those startling conditions. And no one told him the true story from his father's perspective or circumstances. I am not defending his birth father- but it seems that he was only told negative things about him. It would seem he would be closed to his birth father due to never knowing him and feeling he abandoned him. Often it is the relationship of the parents that puts a wedge between the child and the parent who leaves. Ford's birth father may have been a troubled person but its sad that he likely never saw the whole story or knew the man besides what he was told.
Thanks for sharing! Jody M, adoptee