July 14 , 2022 - Today marks what would have been the 107th birthday of the 38th President of The United States , Gerald Ford. Typically on this page a series of historical events in the life of the subject in this instance , Gerald Ford , would be listed. Since  your reporter once actually saw Ford in person , I thought it would be fun to share that memory.

The date was October 13 , 1976 and I was headed to my weekly 6:30 pm guitar lesson at a local music store on Route 22 in Union , New Jersey. Ford had spent the bulk of his day campaigning in New Jersey in the final stretch of his 1976 presidential campaign. Also in Union , New Jersey was a catering hall ,the Town and Campus ,  where Ford would end his day in the Garden State with a speech. Following this campaign event , Ford  was on his way to Newark  Airport , about  6 miles away.

As I arrived at the music store I saw that there was no traffic at all on the east bound side of Route 22 , which usually is quite busy at rush hour. Myself and other people in the parking lot went  to look at the highway to see what was going on. With that probably about 500 yards away a police car with flashing lights began to lead  President Ford's motorcade down the ramp onto the highway. Fortunately ,  drivers in the west bound lane slowly came to a stop to get a look at the unfolding scene.

With the traffic stopped ,  this allowed for myself and other lookers  to cross into the highway up to the three-foot wall separating  the east and west bound lanes. To greet as many potential voters as possible , Ford along with US Senator Clifford Case of New Jersey were visible to all as they were standing through the open moon roof of the presidential limo. Ford along with Case waved to the surprised people as the motorcade passed.

On a night when I thought I was on my way to just another Wednesday night guitar lesson , I got to see President Gerald Ford!

Now lets continue our birthday salute with some campaign buttons from Ford's 1976 race for The White House.