Gerald Ford was president of the United States during the 1976 Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary before America250.
The United States Bicentennial culminated on July 4, 1976, exactly 200 years after the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Ford, the nation’s 38th president, participated in the nationwide observance during his presidency.
The Bicentennial was not limited to a single ceremony. It included commemorations of Revolutionary-era events, historic preservation projects, exhibitions, parades, educational programs, and community celebrations. The anniversary became a major national effort to connect contemporary Americans with the country’s founding history.
America250 follows the Bicentennial by half a century. Gerald Ford should not be confused with Jimmy Carter, who became president in January 1977, or Richard Nixon, who resigned the presidency in 1974.