Longtime Ford aide was Spokane native

Mildred Leonard began her life in a lower South Hill home, but ended her career in the White House as President Ford’s personal assistant.

Born in 1912 in Spokane, Leonard moved to Washington, D.C., in the 1940s to work as a congressional secretary. In 1951, she was hired as the personal secretary to Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich. By the time he became president, she was his personal assistant.

“She was just a wonderful lady and adored President Ford,” said Spokane resident Louise Lamp, who had family ties to Leonard.

The Spokesman-Review described Leonard as unpretentious and soft-spoken in a 1974 story.

Raised on East Ninth Avenue in a two-story home with a dormer and a broad front porch, she graduated from Holy Names Academy, a high school that has since been turned into apartments.

After finishing high school, she began working as the manager of a Western Union Telegraph branch in St. Helena, Calif. Her brother Thomas Leonard opened a medical practice in Washington, D.C., so she requested a transfer to be closer. Two sisters, Elizabeth Leonard and Mary Leonard, ran the Paulsen Medical and Dental Hospital in the Paulsen Medical Building for a time, but they eventually joined their siblings in the capital.

One sister stayed behind. Helen Leonard joined the sisters at Holy Names Convent, becoming Sister Agnes Virginia. According to The Spokesman-Review, Virginia was the last of the Leonard siblings to remain in Spokane. Sister Mary Ann Farley said Virginia died in 1987.

Ruth Kilmer, one of Leonard’s co-workers throughout Ford’s political career, said that while Leonard was universally loved, she was no shrinking violet.

Kilmer, speaking Friday from her home in Columbia, Penn., recalled a time when the congressman was on Capitol Hill fighting for a defense bill. Kilmer attended the hearing and upon returning commented to Leonard about the boss’ graciousness before a chamber comprised of a majority of Democrats.

“And Mildred quipped, ‘That’s because he’s kind to dumb animals,’ ” Kilmer recalled with a laugh.

Leonard stayed with Ford throughout his time in Congress, becoming his personal assistant when he moved to the White House as Richard Nixon’s vice president.

Then Nixon resigned, and Ford took his staff with him into the West Wing.

“She was always loyal to Spokane,” telling co-workers about shopping downtown and relaxing with tea and family, Kilmer said.

Leonard was scheduled to return to Spokane with Vice President Ford for the 1974 Expo.

“But history dictated otherwise,” she told the Spokesman-Review later that year. “As you will remember, that trip was canceled because of the change of presidents.”

Leonard never married, never had children and wasn’t particularly comfortable with other people’s children, Lamp said.

Leonard stayed with Ford until shortly before the president left office. She and the president said an emotional goodbye.

“Mr. Ford even had tears that she was leaving,” Kilmer said.

Records from the Gerald R. Ford Library show Leonard died on Oct. 9, 1993, in Bethesda, Md.

Kilmer will always remember the kind woman with the quick wit.

“You would have loved her,” she said.