Gerald Ford Jr. grew up in a region of the nation heavily shaped by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Ford Presidential Foundation Executive Director Gleaves Whitney will unpack the significance of this jewel among America’s forgotten founding documents and discuss its impact on the civic and political culture in which our 38th President worked.
Event Topic: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Community Leadership Camp
Join the education team at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum this summer for a free three-hour program of discussion and activities, including a guided tour of the museum!
Students (grades 6-8), plus their accompanying adults, will learn about becoming engaged leaders in their community by studying the Declaration of Independence, and by seeing the examples of President Gerald and First Lady Betty Ford.
Space is limited, registration is required.
A Journey of Service, Gratitude, and the American Ideal
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Huan Nguyen, USN shares a powerful reflection on the American story through the intertwined experiences of his family’s escape from Vietnam, President Gerald Ford’s courageous leadership during the 1975 refugee crisis, and his own three decades of military service. He honors the compassion of ordinary Americans—such as Ed and Dorothy Veiluva of Oklahoma—whose kindness helped his family rebuild their lives, and he recounts how that generosity inspired his commitment to serve the nation that welcomed them. The remarks offer a thoughtful reflection on what it means to belong, to serve, and to carry the American story forward.
Coffee reception to follow.
The Original Debates over Constitutional Interpretation with Jonathan Gienapp
Today, debate rages over how to interpret the United States Constitution, especially what role history should play in that practice.
When the generation that adopted the Constitution in the late eighteenth century first interpreted the document, what defined their debates? How do those debates compare to the ones structuring American constitutional law today?
Join author and professor Jonathan Gienapp for a lecture exploring how to read the Constitution through lenses past and present and reflecting on what the creators can teach us about the Constitution today.
A book signing and dessert reception will follow the program.
Gallery Guide Chat – Waltzing with the Queen
Join the Museum’s Curator for a special inside look and unique stories related to the artifacts featured in the new exhibit, Waltzing with the Queen.
The Gallery Chat is free with museum admission.