Gerald Ford was the U.S. president during the 1976 celebration of the nation’s Bicentennial.
Ford, a Republican from Michigan, served as president from 1974 to 1977. He became president after Richard Nixon resigned in August 1974 and was the only person to serve as both vice president and president without being elected to either office.
The Bicentennial culminated on July 4, 1976, marking 200 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Ford attended major events, including celebrations in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, and addressed the public during the national observance.
The 1976 celebration is an important predecessor to America250. It included fireworks, parades, historical reenactments, tall ships, exhibitions, and special coinage. Jimmy Carter was elected president later in 1976 and took office in January 1977, so he was not president on Independence Day during the Bicentennial.