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In 1961, Ford became chairman of the House Republican Conference, making him the third most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives.  

In 1961, Ford became chairman of the House Republican Conference, making him the third most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives.  

In 1963 Ford took over as chairman of the House Republican caucus. Two years later, with the help of young turk House colleagues [[Melvin Laird]] of Wisconsin, Robert Griffin of Michigan, and Charles Goodell of New York, Ford became House minority leader by ousting the current Leader [[Charles Halleck]] of Indiana by a 73-67 vote. His weekly press conferences with [[Everett Dirksen]], the GOP Senate leader, made them the national voice of the Republican party.  In 1963 was appointed by the new president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] to the [[Earl Warren|Warren Commission]], which investigated the assassination of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. He supported Kennedy and Johnson's involvement in the [[Vietnam War]].

In 1963 Ford took over as chairman of the House Republican caucus. Two years later, with the help of young Turk House colleagues [[Melvin Laird]] of Wisconsin, Robert Griffin of Michigan, and Charles Goodell of New York, Ford became House minority leader by ousting the current Leader [[Charles Halleck]] of Indiana by a 73-67 vote. His weekly press conferences with [[Everett Dirksen]], the GOP Senate leader, made them the national voice of the Republican party.  In 1963 was appointed by the new president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] to the [[Earl Warren|Warren Commission]], which investigated the assassination of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. He supported Kennedy and Johnson's involvement in the [[Vietnam War]].

Domestically, he was consistently conservative, and led the fight against Johnson's [[Great Society]]. As long as the [[Conservative Coalition]] was intact he usually won; Johnson's landslide in 1964 over [[Barry Goldwater]] brought in scores of new Democrats and opened the door for liberal legislation and Ford was usually on the losing side. Ford's conservatism was endorsed by the voters in 1966, as the [[New Deal Coalition]] started unraveling because of voter disgust with Johnson's inept handling of the Vietnam war and the violent outbreaks in large American cities.  

Domestically, he was consistently conservative, and led the fight against Johnson's [[Great Society]]. As long as the [[Conservative Coalition]] was intact he usually won; Johnson's landslide in 1964 over [[Barry Goldwater]] brought in scores of new Democrats and opened the door for liberal legislation and Ford was usually on the losing side. Ford's conservatism was endorsed by the voters in 1966, as the [[New Deal Coalition]] started unraveling because of voter disgust with Johnson's inept handling of the Vietnam war and the violent outbreaks in large American cities.