Set Of President Gerald R. Ford's Golf Clubs, Golf Ball With Presidential Seal And Facsimile Signature, Signed Golf Bag And Letter From Ford's Assistant - Circa 1970s

This set of golf clubs, with ball, oversize tee, personalized and twice hand signed bag, were owned by President Gerald Ford during his 1974-1977 presidency. They were sold at a 1977 auction to the consignor to raise money for the Cancer Fund Drive. Also included is a letter to the consignor from Ford's executive assistant Robert E. Barrett, typewritten and hand signed on from the "Office of Gerald R. Ford" stationery with the presidential seal. The second paragraph reads "President Ford asked me to express his appreciation for your contribution to cancer research and to wish you the best of luck with the clubs." The Fords were supporters of The American Cancer Society, as weeks after Betty Ford became First Lady, she underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer and chose to speak about it publicly. "When other women have this same operation, it doesn't make any headlines," she told Time magazine. "But the fact that I was the wife of the President put it in headlines and brought before the public this particular experience I was going through. It made a lot of women realize that it could happen to them. I'm sure I've saved at least one person—maybe more." While it has been widely reported in the media that President Ford was a bit of a klutz (thank you, Chevy Chase!), the truth was that he was a skilled athlete. Playing center at Michigan he won two national champions (1932-33) and was MVP his senior season. His number is only one of 5 ever retired by Michigan. Recruited by the NFL, Ford instead chose to serve as assistant football coach at Yale while studying for his law degree. He was also a black diamond skier. Golf was his passion and Ford often shot in the 80's, once scoring a hole-in-one. He was the first person to join the USGA Members Program and the honorary chairman of the first President's Cup in 1994. It also has been documented that Ford had a special knack for hitting errant shots in the gallery, especially in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, where he was paired with Hope, and it became a running joke. In fact, Ford once said, "I would like to deny all allegations by Bob Hope that during my last game of golf, I hit an eagle, a birdie, an elk and a moose."  Condition: Overall excellent condition, some wear from use. Set comprises a driver, three wood, four wood, eight wood, two-nine irons, pitching wedge and a sand wedge.