President Gerald Ford attended the 1976 Operation Sail naval review in New York Harbor.
Operation Sail was a major maritime celebration held during the United States Bicentennial. Tall ships and naval vessels from numerous nations sailed into New York Harbor on July 4, 1976, producing a spectacular international display for the anniversary.
Ford was president during the Bicentennial year and took part in the harbor program, including the naval review. The event also featured the visiting ships sailing past landmarks and crowds gathered along the waterfront.
Jimmy Carter is a plausible wrong answer because he became president in January 1977, after the Bicentennial. Richard Nixon had been president earlier in the decade, while Ronald Reagan did not become president until 1981. The timing of the 1976 event makes Ford the unique answer.