Born on the 14th of July, 1913, in Omaha Nebraska, the man who would soon be America’s 38th president was born. He and his wife, Elizabeth Anne Bloomer Ford, were the proud parents of four, namely: Michael Gerald, John Gardner, Steven Meigs, as well as Susan Elizabeth. Aside from being President, he also served as Vice President under Nixon when he was in office. Also member of the House of Representatives, Ford was a force to be reckoned with. For more fast facts about our main man Gerald Ford, read the article up until the end. Enjoy!

Fact 1: A man of many talents, Gerald Ford was not only the most powerful person in America at one point in his life; he was also an outstanding lawyer, politician, as well as statesman. He also did time serving the Navy during World War II.

Fact 2: He attended the University of Michigan back in ’35, as well as the prestigious Yale University back in ’45 to take up Law.

Fact 3: His whole name, you ask? He wasn’t born with the name Gerald Ford. It’s quite far from that actually, seeing as his birth name was actually Leslie Lynch King, Jr. It was due to his parent’s tumultuous relationship that shortly after Leslie was born; his mother packed up and left his abusive father. She then remarried, and started calling her son after his new Step Father, Gerald Ford.

Fact 4: Gerald Ford’s famous words, from which people draw wisdom from in regards to life in politics, were: “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”

Fact 5: This man was a college football star! Can you imagine Gerald Ford in a Varsity jacket raking in all the glory from touch downs and the attention from the ladies? His awesome athletic talents, as well as him being an active member of the Eagle Scouts, have led to him being awarded the Most Valuable Player title in the University of Michigan, where he led his team – the Wolverines – to victory as captain.

Fact 6: He grew up valuing family over all things, because he grew up with a very close and loving one. He was the oldest of three boys. He had no idea who his biological father was, or the fact that he even existed, until he was 17!

Fact 7: Universities left and right were eyeing the local sports hero, and desperately wanted Ford on their team. Surprisingly, Gerald Ford turned the offers down, and opted to attend Yale University where he could master Law and Economics.

Fact 8: Gerald Ford is a man with many talents, as well as many achievements. Aside from President and MVP we can add Navy veteran, recipient of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, recipient of the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, a World War II Victory Medal, as well as a medal from his American campaign! I wonder if he’s more of a glass shelf display kind of guy, or if he’s the type who keeps everything hung on walls. Whether he likes to show off his impressive achievements, or he’s humble about it all and keeps them all hidden, I’m pretty sure the question that’s all on our minds is: how did we not know about a football playing president any sooner?!

Fact 9: There have been two assassination attempts during Gerald Ford’s lifetime! One by the infamous Lynette “Squeeky” Fromme, and the latter by Sarah Jane Moore. Thankfully, he was able to survive both and walk away unscathed.

Fact 10: He was the first ever president to visit Japan! This trip is all the more memorable, because during his visit, he couldn’t help but trip, trip, and trip again. Either Japanese grounds are built differently than they are back in the West, or the banana peels in the land of the rising sun are invisible. With all the slipping and tripping, he was remembered as the “clumsiest” president, which is quite ironic seeing as he’s athletic and should have been blessed with the power of steady hands and other unfair gifts only athletic people get. His clumsiness was immortalized on an episode of Saturday Night Live.