Dorothy E. Downton

Dorothy E. Downton (born November 11, 1946) served as the personal secretary to United States President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977.[1]

Dorothy Downton
Downton (right) with Gerald Ford in the Oval Office, c. 1975
Personal Secretary to the President
In office
August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977
PresidentGerald Ford
Preceded byRose Mary Woods
Succeeded bySusan Clough
Personal details
Born
Dorothy Hessler

(1946-11-11) November 11, 1946
Manistee, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationDavenport University (BA)

Early life and career

Born Dorothy Hessler in Manistee, Michigan, in 1946, Downton attended Davenport University. Upon graduating, she began working at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the print division.[2]

Downton joined Gerald R. Ford’s congressional staff in 1967. She later served as personal secretary during his time as Vice President and later as President. She also served as President Ford’s personal secretary in his Rancho Mirage office and assisted his 1976 presidential campaign.[3]

Post-White House career

Downton continued to serve as Ford's personal secretary until 1980, and then moved to Detroit.[4] In 1990, Downton returned to the workforce as Office Administrator for Lionel, LLC. Downton worked for the Associated Press as a secretary for the Michigan bureau from 1995 until her retirement in 2008.

Downton's White House files have been recorded and preserved by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.[5]

References
  1. BERRIS, RANDI GOLDBERG (2006-12-27). "Memories of Working for Gerald Ford". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  2. "Dorothy Downton - Gerald R. Ford Foundation". Gerald R. Ford Foundation. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  3. Seifert, Erica J. (2014-01-10). The Politics of Authenticity in Presidential Campaigns, 1976–2008. McFarland. ISBN 9780786491094.
  4. "Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum • Downton White House: This is the final post in our..." Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  5. President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the President. 1974-1977 (1974). Dorothy Downton's White House Files. Collection GRF-0146: Dorothy E. Downton Files (Ford Administration).
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