President Ford in Alexandria
August 9 - 20, 1974

Alexandria Police Protection for the New President Alexandria police officers were proud to protect Gerald R. Ford when he suddenly became president of the United States on August 9, 1974.  Until the family moved into the White House on August 20, Alexandria officers, many with special tactical training, assisted the Secret Service with security, restricted traffic, and escorted the new president into Washington. To the president’s left are (l-r) Officers Randy Benarick, Roscoe Price, Ralph Carlton, and Robert “Pete” Moss and to his right are (l-r) Officers Marcel Minutolo and James Butts, Lt. Walter Calhoun, and Sgt. Ronald Graves.

After Nixon announced his resignation on August 8, 1974, crowds gathered outside the Ford’s home. The Alexandria Police Department closed the road to traffic, and a stand with microphones appeared for the press. According to the Alexandria Gazette on that day:

“…Crown View Drive… came alive with news media personnel, neighbors and curious passers-by. Neighbors joined the professionals in the picture taking experience as Ford entered, then resumed the friendly vigil waiting for something to happen. It didn’t.” (Alexandria Gazette, August 8, 1974.)

Neighbor Louise Abbruzzese allowed reporters to use her telephone, television and bathroom as they waited hours for Ford to arrive home. Her husband Peter provided a pitcher of martinis in their garage, as a way for reporters to get out of the rain. In thanks, the Press presented the Abbruzzese family with a plaque for their garage, which reads “First press room of President Gerald R. Ford, August 8, 1974.” (CNN transcript, December 27, 2006.)

Ford took the oath of office the next day, on August 9, 2004. That night, close friends gathered at the Ford home for an informal dinner. Margaret and Trammell F. Crow were among those in attendance. Mrs. Crow noted that a couple of White House servants came over to help prepare and clean up. (The Dallas Morning News, December 29, 2006.)

Two days later, the Fords attended an Episcopal service at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, at 3606 Seminary Road. The sermon by the Reverend William Dols, Jr., addressed the need to “pick up the broken pieces” of Nixon’s presidency. (Alexandria Gazette Packet January 3, 2007.)

The President commuted down I-395 from Alexandria to the White House for the first ten days of his term. According to Time Magazine: “Preceded by a police car and trailed by four other vehicles, including a Secret Service station wagon and a press van, his limousine was hard to miss. Many motorists waved a cheerful if somewhat bemused good-morning as the Chief Executive, immersed in his morning newspapers, sailed past them in the lane reserved for buses and car pools.” (Time Magazine, August 24, 1974.)

Betty Ford later wrote: “For me, leaving the White House wasn’t nearly so much of a wrench as leaving our house in Alexandria.”

Alexandria Police Association Crab Pick September 7, 1974 A month after becoming president, Gerald Ford attended the Alexandria Police Association crab pick.  President Ford and members of the U.S. and Soviet space programs eventually got the hang of crab picking.  In this image, Det. Joseph Serafin demonstrated his mallet technique to the new president while (far left) astronaut Thomas Stafford and cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov (right of Ford) looked on.

Betty Ford Visits Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 1975 First Lady Betty Ford was made honorary chairman of the Friends of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum during her visit on October 16, 1975. To her right is Bill Adam, who was curator of the Museum at that time.

President Ford, in his remarks to the Alexandria Police Association in September 1974, said:  “We have many fond memories of living in Alexandria, and we aren't going to sell our home. We are going to come back there. I don't know how soon.” The Fords did not return to live on Crown View Drive. After he left the Presidency in 1977, the Fords retired to Palm Springs, California, and Vail, Colorado.