As a Republican congressman from Michigan, he was undefeated through 13 elections

Gerald R. Ford, a congressman from Michigan who later became president, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He was initially elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948 and went on to serve 13 consecutive terms, eventually becoming the House Minority Leader in 1965. Ford was the first vice president to be nominated by the president under the Twenty-fifth Amendment, following the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew in December 1973. Ford became president when Richard M. Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, as a result of the Watergate Scandal, over ten months later. Ford completed Nixon's term, but he failed to win reelection in 1976.

Representative John Dingell of Michigan, who served in the House with Ford, honored his friend for the character traits that made him popular with so many colleagues from both parties after the Michigan legislator passed away on December 26, 2006. Jerry was described by Dingell as "warm, gentle, polite, pleasant, and courteous." He never cursed, loved his kids and family dearly, and most of all, he loved Betty. The House and Senate decided to have President Ford's body lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda from December 30, 2006, to January 2, 2007, as a final homage.