Gerald Ford and Willis Ward, two high school football stars, became fast friends at the University of Michigan in the 1930s. However, their friendship was put to the test when Fielding Yost, the athletic director, refused to allow Willis Ward to play on the football team due to his African-American heritage. The situation escalated into a national controversy, with the Michigan community and the nation at large weighing in on the issue. Gerald Ford, a senior and a starter on the team, was torn between his loyalty to his friend and his commitment to the team. Ultimately, Ford stood by Ward, and the two friends played a crucial role in Michigan's only win of the season. Their friendship continued long after their football days, with Ford becoming a congressman and Ward becoming a judge, and even influenced Ford's decision to support civil rights legislation in the 1960s.
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