Gerald Ford was the U.S. president during the 1976 celebration of America’s Bicentennial.
The United States Bicentennial commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Its central date was July 4, 1976, exactly 200 years after Congress adopted the Declaration in Philadelphia. Ford, who had become president in 1974, participated in major national observances and addressed the public during the celebration.
Bicentennial events included parades, fireworks, exhibitions, tall-ship gatherings, and local commemorations across the country. Philadelphia hosted prominent ceremonies, while Operation Sail brought an international fleet parade to New York Harbor. The Smithsonian also staged programs connected with American history and folklore.
The political timeline can cause confusion because Ford faced Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election. Carter won that election and became president in January 1977, but Ford was the president during the Bicentennial year itself. America250 in 2026 echoes that earlier nationwide anniversary while marking 250 years instead of 200.