Title IX – Ford in Focus

In June 1972, Congress passed Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act which prohibited educational programs that received federal funding from discriminating on the basis of sex. Three years later, the implementation of this act was still in discussion amid the President, his Cabinet, and his advisors. Principal among these were James Cannon, executive director of the Domestic Policy Council and Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW).

_{James M. Cannon Files, Box 45, “1975/05/17 – Secretary Weinberger.”
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library}

_{Ron Nessen Papers, Box 43, “3/6/75 – Press Conference.” Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library}

Unsurprisingly, President Ford heard from the general public about their views of Title IX and its importance or detrimental effects to intercollegiate sports. Here are a couple of examples the President received from individuals at Purdue University and University of Michigan:

_{White House Central Files FA3 Executive.
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library}

_{White House Central Files FA3 General, Box 9, “1/2/1975-4/20/1975.”
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library}

President Ford was supportive of Title IX and the regulations it sought to achieve. In a memorandum for the record, Jim Cannon wrote the following with regard to the President’s views:

James M. Cannon Files, Box 32, “Sex Discrimination – Title IX (1).”
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

What do you think? Would you have done anything differently from President Ford with regard to Title IX?

Author: Brooke Clement