Born in 1979, I am too young to remember Gerald R. Ford or appreciate his long, accomplished life. But it is obvious by this week’s ongoing tribute to Ford that history has unequivocally looked upon the former president, who passed away Tuesday at 93, with the same respect and dignity he brought to the Oval Office and to the United States of America.

The event most frequently mentioned in this week of reflection was Ford’s unconditional pardon of Richard Nixon - which, depending on your point of view, either offered much-needed closure on a dark period in our nation’s history, or let one of its most notorious crooks off the hook.

Derided by critics as a quid pro quo, but praised by supporters as a bold and necessary step in the nation’s healing process, the Nixon pardon was the defining event of Ford’s presidency, and one that many pundits feel cost him in his bid to win a full term in 1976.

Regardless, both Democrats and Republicans have stated this week that Ford helped restore integrity to the Presidency and to the nation after scandal ousted Nixon and Ford’s predecessor as Vice President, Spiro Agnew. A man well liked among both parties despite weaknesses or loyalties, he carried himself in an honorable, unassuming manner in shepherding the nation past Watergate. That invaluable contribution should serve as his legacy.

This is what most people will remember about Gerald Ford, if reflections throughout the nation this week are any indication. Perhaps because he is considered an accidental president, and because he was such an honorable, likable person, his death has not sparked the deluge of controversy over his legacy that we saw with Ronald Reagan in 2003. Instead, the country is united in paying tribute, which is good to see.

Here are a few other facts about Gerald Ford, some better known (and more important) than others, that further chronicle his All-American life:

– Ford was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., after his father. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and separated from his mother just 16 days after Ford’s birth. His mother, Dorothy King, soon married Gerald Rudolff Ford, a paint salesman. She began calling her son Gerald Rudolff Ford, Jr. The boy who would be president was never formally adopted, and did not legally change his name until 1935 (when he also assumed a more conventional spelling of his middle name).

– The only U.S. President to earn the title of Eagle Scout, Ford also played football at the University of Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to undefeated seasons and back-to-back national championships in 1932 and 1933. He turned down offers to play professionally in order to attend Yale Law School.

– Ford served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years, serving Grand Rapids, Mich., from 1949 until his confirmation as vice president in 1973. For his last eight years in Congress, he served as the Republicans’ minority leader. He fashioned himself negotiator and a reconciler, not a maverick or a reformer - and amazingly, did not write a single piece of major legislation in his entire career.”

– Ford faced two unrelated assassination attempts in 1975, occurring within three weeks of each other and both perpetrated by women (who are still in prison serving life terms).

– In 1975, Ford appointed John Paul Stevens as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, replacing William O. Douglas. Now the senior Associate Justice of the court, Stevens is regarded, interestingly, as one of the more liberal justices on the bench.

– The former president is survived by his wife of 58 years, Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford (better known as Betty Ford), and his four children, born 1950-1957. Betty is the founder and past chairwoman of the renowned Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction.

– Earlier this year, Ford surpassed Ronald Reagan as the country’s longest-living president. Both died at age 93.

– The White House Chief of Staff under Ford was a man by the name of Dick Cheney, and Defense Secretary was none other than Donald Rumsfeld.

– Ford was the first person appointed to the vice presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment. Upon succession to the presidency, Ford became the only person to hold the nation’s highest office without having been elected either president or vice president.

– Ford’s address to the nation after pardoning Nixon has been quoted often in the past few days. But here’s what his official proclamation announcing - and justifying - the controversial decision stated:

“It is believed that a trial of Richard Nixon, if it became necessary, could not fairly begin until a year or more has elapsed. In the meantime, the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States. The prospects of such trial will cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States.”

– Ford was challenged for the Republican nomination - a rarity for a sitting president - but defeated his opposition, Ronald Reagan, by a delegate count of 1,187-1,080. Ford’s running mate in 1976 was Bob Dole, not Rockefeller, the sitting vice president who had been nominated and confirmed under the 25th amendment. Ford lost to Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter in the general election by 57 electoral votes.

– Take a look at how the states voted below. Compared to the 2000 and 2004 election results by state, this was a real head-scratcher: