Godfrey Sperling Jr., a longtime Washington bureau chief for the Monitor, began covering Gerald Ford in the 1950s when the future president was running for re-election to Congress.

The two sons of the Midwest seemed to enjoy each other's company. A picture of them chatting in the Oval Office was a feature of Sperling's office. Mr. Ford was the first US president to attend the newsmaker breakfast for reporters that Sperling hosted for 40 years, and well after the former president left office, they remained in touch. A note sent to Sperling for his 90th birthday came with "warmest regards." "That's Jerry," he said.