A Ford in our Past

Utah State University holds special memories for Gerald R. Ford, 38th president of the United States. As vice president, he spoke to students during the school’s June Commencement ceremonies in 1974 when he also received an honorary doctorate of Political Science.

Eight months prior to that, he was on USU’s campus visiting his son, Jack Ford, who was a 21-year-old forestry student with the College of Natural Resources.

During his commencement speech, Ford told USU graduates that President Richard M. Nixon should receive equal credit with recent Nobel Peace Prize winner Henry Kissinger for peace settlements in Vietnam and the Middle East — comments Ford made three months prior to Nixon’s resignation. Ford assumed the presidency in August 1974.

As far as records show, Ford is the only former U.S. president (although still vice president at the time) to have visited the campus of Utah State University, according to Robert Parson, USU archivist.

“Wm. Howard Taft spoke in the downtown Tabernacle — not sure if he was VP or senator at the time — but I don’t believe he ever ventured up College Hill,” Parson said. “Teddy Roosevelt made a whistle-stop in Cache Valley, though I believe it was at Cache Junction, not Logan, when he was campaigning as the Bull Moose candidate in 1912.”

All flags will remain flying at half-staff in honor of Ford until Jan. 26, which marks the end of 30 days, as proclaimed by President George W. Bush.