Gerald Ford presided over the United States Bicentennial celebrations in 1976, the predecessor to America250.
Ford was president when the country marked the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He took part in major observances, including events in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston, and addressed the nation during the Bicentennial period.
The Bicentennial was organized through federal bodies including the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and, later, the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. Celebrations included fireworks, parades, historical reenactments, tall-ship gatherings, and the American Freedom Train.
Ford was not president for the entire planning process. The commission was created in 1966, before Ford took office, and planning continued through several administrations. Ford became president in 1974 after Richard Nixon resigned and remained in office until Jimmy Carter’s inauguration in January 1977.