President Gerald R. Ford memorialized in U.S. Capitol

May 4, 2011

A bronze statue of Michigan-native President Gerald R. Ford was dedicated in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Ford, the nation's 38th president, was memorialized for his bipartisan leadership following President Richard Nixon's resignation and the tumultuous Watergate scandal.

Ford School Dean Susan M. Collins joined three of President Ford's children, Governor Snyder, former Michigan Governors Jim Blanchard and John Engler, a number of current and past members of Congress, and other dignitaries at the ceremony.

Each state is allowed two statues in the Capitol's Rotunda. The 10-foot tall Ford likeness joins Lewis Cass, who was Michigan's second governor and served in numerous federal-level positions including secretary of state and ambassador to France. The statue was created by a Michigan alum, J. Brett Grill, from Grand Rapids, Mich.

Read more about the dedication ceremony:

- Detroit Free Press
- Detroit News
- The New York Times
- USA Today