Mel Laird

Mel Laird served with Gerald R. Ford in Congress for many years. Laird served as the Congressman from the 7th District from Wisconsin. He became Secretary of Defense under President Richard Nixon. President Ford awarded Laird the Medal of Freedom in 1974. After government service, he remained active and served on the board of directors of numerous corporations and not-for-profit organizations.

Gail Raiman

Gail Raiman was a staff member in Gerald R. Ford’s congressional office. She would later join his White House staff. Gail Raiman was interviewed for the Gerald R. Ford Oral History Project on May 6, 2011 by Richard Norton Smith.

Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger served as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State to President Gerald R. Ford. He also served in both positions for President Richard Nixon. In 1973, Dr. Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1977, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Ford. He is a Trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Jack Marsh

Jack Marsh served with Gerald R. Ford in the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia from 1963 until 1971. President Nixon appointed him as Assistant Secretary of Defense in 1973. In 1974, he was selected to serve as National Security Advisor to then Vice President Ford and later served as Counselor to President Ford. From 1981 to 1989, he served as the U.S. Secretary of the Army under President Ronald Reagan. He is a Trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

John Dingell

John Dingell served in Congress with Gerald R. Ford. Dingell was first elected to Congress in 1955 after his father, John Dingell, Sr. died after 22 years in office. Dingell, Jr. was elected to his first full term in 1956 and is the longest serving member of Congress in U.S. history.

Lee Hamilton

Lee Hamilton served with Gerald R. Ford in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented Indiana’s 9th District for 34 years. He served as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Intelligence Committee.

Leon Parma

Leon Parma was a close personal friend and advisor of President Gerald R. Ford and a frequent golfing companion of President Ford. The special friendship among President and Mrs. Ford and Leon and Barbara Parma spanned over forty years. He was an Honorary Pallbearer at President Ford’s State Funeral. Leon enjoyed a very successful career in a variety of businesses. He is a Trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Max Friedersdorf

Max Friedersdorf was President Ford’s White House Assistant for Congressional Relations. He also served in the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Congressional Relations staff under President Nixon. Max then served as Federal Election Commission Chairman under President Carter. He also served as Ambassador to Bermuda and Switzerland in the Reagan administration.

Peter Abruzzese

Peter Abruzzese was a former neighbor of President and First Lady Betty Ford’s in Alexandria, Virginia. Abruzzese was interviewed for the Gerald R. Ford Oral History Project on July 8, 2009 by Richard Norton Smith.

Robert Griffin

Robert Griffin was the United States Solicitor General under President Gerald R. Ford and President Richard Nixon. He served as Acting Attorney General and was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President Ronald Reagan. After leaving the bench, he became a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Pin It on Pinterest