Former President Gerald Ford - a question?

Question

I am just curious ...

I had read the article that mentioned when Gerald Ford was young, he had turned down offers from NFL teams to become a professional football player. Why did he reject these offers?

Answer 1

Probably because he had greater aspirations...such as US president. He wanted to make a real difference in the world. That probably took a lot for him to turn down something like that, too.

Answer 2

This was back in the 1930's, and yes you are correct. He was contacted by both the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.

However, back in those days, being a professional football player was nothing like it is today. They did not make enough money live on back then, and had to have jobs in the off season to support their families.

Former President Ford wanted to become a lawyer, and didn't want that kind of life. Back in those days it wasn't as difficult a decision as it would be today with the millions of dollars professional football players make now.

Answer 3

Have You access to His book, "895 Days"? The Late President,Gerald Ford, gave up His career as a potential professional Football Player in order to pursue a more scholarly lifestyle.

Answer 4

All hear this. We are in Iraq. That is a fact with which we must deal. If we were to pull out it would undermine the War on Terror by encouraging our enemies. This is proved by what Osama bin Laden said after we cut and ran from Somalia. He said he knew at that point that the United States was a paper tiger (4) and could be defeated. That was when plans started, which eventually led to the deaths of 3000 civilians at the hands of Muslim terrorists. Leaving Iraq would destabilize the entire region. This is a view held by the Saudi government as evidenced by the message they sent to the US, which stated they would be forced to come in on the side of the Sunnis if the US left and the inevitable civil war were to ensue (1). Leaving Iraq would provide al Quaeda with something that they are currently in the market for; an unstable country in the Middle East from which they can operate safely. If Iraq was of no strategic importance in the war on terror, why are the terrorists fighting so hard to keep it? It is a fact that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. We have found shells with sarin gas in them (2). We found 1.95 tons of partially enriched uranium in Iraq. It was enough to make a nuclear bomb had they been able to complete the enrichment, and, in it's current state, would make a fine dirty bomb (3). Finally, we are all aware that the center of Radical Islam in the region is Iran. We know that they are the real player that needs pacification. Where is Afghanistan? It is on Iran's Eastern border. Where is Iraq? It is on Iran's Western border. Who controls the Persian Gulf which comprises almost the entire Iranian coast line and its southern border? We do. Now I understand that the anti-war crowd feels that absolutely nothing is worth war, but history has shown that such beliefs are nothing more than adolescent naivete. Asking a member of the anti-war movement how we should conduct a war is no different from asking a vegan the best recipe for steak. There are sound strategic reasons for us to be in Iraq and for us to win. Ford saying that he would not have gone into Iraq is nothing more than gutless pandering. Its the same kind of self aggrandizement that sports commentators engage in when criticizing a particular coach for the way he played a particular game. The man is not to be considered an unquestionable saint simply because he died.

Answer 5

He was destined to be The President of United states fate plays a very important part in your decision making.At that time the players were also not paid as much as they are paid today.

Answer 6

To go to law school. Wise man. Rest in peace President Ford. You had the courage to do the right thing.

Answer 7

One of the best questions I've ever read because it indicates a truly curious mind--which equals an intelligent mind to me.
However, I don't know the answer. I think he wanted to "serve his country." I believe he chose public service over sports.
Also, I've recently learned that he went to Yale Law on a fully funded Scholarship--smart man!

Answer 8

I don't think professional sports were as lucrative in his "hay-day" and he had an intense interest in politics. And in hind-sight, it looks like he made the right choice.

Answer 9

I don't think football players made a living wage back then.

Answer 10

So that he could coach at Yale, where he wished to pursue law school.