Gerald Ford officially proclaimed 1976 the Bicentennial Year during his presidency.
Ford issued Presidential Proclamation 4411 on December 31, 1975, formally designating 1976 as the Bicentennial Year. The proclamation called on Americans to reflect on the nation’s history and celebrate the principles associated with the Revolution. Ford was the 38th president and had become president in 1974 after Richard Nixon resigned.
The Bicentennial was not a single event held on one day. Federal agencies, states, cities, museums, schools, and community groups organized programs throughout 1975 and 1976. The celebrations included the American Freedom Train, historical reenactments, parades, exhibitions, concerts, and ceremonies at major Revolutionary sites.
Ford’s role can be confused with Jimmy Carter’s because Carter won the 1976 presidential election and took office in January 1977. Ford remained president throughout the Bicentennial’s main year. America250 similarly uses a national anniversary to connect official ceremonies with local and community participation.