A look at three presidents influenced by adoption
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford originally carried his birth father’s name, Leslie King. His parents separated shortly after his birth, with Ford being raised by his mother, Dorothy. Dorothy remarried almost three years to a businessman, Gerald Rudolph Ford. The couple wasted no time, immediately referring to the someday president as Jerry Ford. Gerald was very close to his family, especially his stepfather. In 1935, Gerald legally changed his name to Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. Speaking of his family, Gerald said “My stepfather was a magnificent person and my mother equally wonderful. So, I couldn’t have written a better prescription for a superb family upbringing.” Gerald Sr. encouraged a young Ford to run for the House of Representatives. His run for the House of Representatives led to a long political career, culminating in the U.S. presidency.
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton shared a similar background to President Ford. However, Clinton’s story was not quite as much a happy one. Like Ford, Clinton had originally been named after his birth father as William Jefferson Blythe III. However, William Blythe II tragically died in a car accident three months prior to Clinton’s birth. Roughly four years later, Clinton’s mother would marry Roger Clinton. Bill would have a younger brother, Roger Clinton Jr. The family of four soon moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Bill spent the remainder of his childhood. Bill and Roger Sr. had a largely strained relationship because of Roger’s battle with alcoholism. Despite this fact, Bill eventually adopted Clinton’s last name so that he and his younger brother would have the same surname.
Bill had a very successful political career, serving as Attorney General and Governor of Arkansas. He was inaugurated as President on January 20, 1993. Clinton’s administration was known for its focus on economic expansion and healthcare reform. However, in November 1995, Clinton proclaimed the first National Adoption Month. This allowed for a month-long recognition of adoption, a significant increase from the week-long observance in previous years.
Ronald Reagan
The first President to declare National Adoption Week was Ronald Reagan; he issued his first proclamation on November 13, 1984. Adoption was a subject close to Reagan’s heart. He became an adoptive father during his first marriage, adopting his son Michael in 1945. Reagan wholeheartedly believed in supporting and celebrating the loving families built through adoption. The remainder of his presidential legacy consists largely of his economic policies, international relations, and social issues such as the War on Drugs. To this day, Ronald Reagan remains known as one of the most popular and influential Presidents in U.S. history.
Click here to learn more about the history of National Adoption Month
