This image of President Gerald Ford carries the inscription “To the People of Lexington, Massachusetts, April 19, 1975.” On that day, Ford gave a speech on Lexington Green in honor of Patriot’s Day and the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington in order to mark the beginning of the nation’s Bicentennial celebrations. Although the preparations for the bicentennial had been somewhat overshadowed by the ongoing Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, Ford’s remarks emphasized the progress of the American people over the previous 200 years. While he acknowledged recent hard times, he closed the speech with a statement of his belief that future hardships could be surmounted through national unity.
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