Like so many presidents, Gerald Ford looks better in hindsight than he did in live action, when every move he made was tainted by his pardon of Richard Nixon. The points of pride of the 38th president’s 895-day tenure include: His courage in stepping into a constitutional crisis. His humility, honesty, hard work and lack of opportunism. His inspiring wife, Betty, who proved just as well-grounded as he did. Both his respect for Congress and his fearless use of the veto pen — 66 times. Kansans also can feel a special connection to Ford because of his Nebraska roots and his selection of Russell’s own Bob Dole as his running mate in 1976.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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41 Comments
Amen Rhonda.
I was barely old enough to remember – but I do recall his selection of Bob Dole as his running mate. Had the U.S. not wallowed in the mire of the anti-Nixon backlash, we would never have had to endure the 4 miserable years of Jimmy Carter.
Ehh, c’est la vie.
Carter was a good man. Be ready for another backlash, for repubs can’t seem to keep them grubby fingers out of scandal.
Didn’t Ford pardon Nixon?Sounds like a theme….
Prediction:
A HUGE deal will be made out of this. It makes a nice distraction and ATTEMPT to unify the nation. And at a time when unity would be unhealthy.
The man was never elected. Aside from providing a lot material for comedy writers, he accomplished almost nothing.
My strongest memories of Ford are not of the man himself, but of Chevy Chase doing his impressions of Ford on Saturday Night Live. Maybe not the best way to remember someone, but the memory puts a smile on my face and leaves me with a fond chuckle.
While the Nixon pardon, after all these years, remains unpalatable to many, I believed at the time, and continue to believe that it was the right thing to do. For those too young to have lived through the Watergate mess, the country was facing a plethora of problems, and did not need to be distracted by a continuation of the saga of Watergate, RMN, etc. Unfortunately, many of those problems persisted beyond the Ford administration, and were to be faced, for the most part not with success, by the Carter administration.
That said, President Ford’s calming manner in his administration was, just like when Reagan was elected, what the country needed at the time.
And who can ever forget the WIN button?
Ford reminds us that Presidents can do what they believe to be the right thing, even at enormous political cost. Absent the pardon, Ford could have been elected and we could have avoided Carter (even better, we would not have to put up with the current former Pres. Carter either – both would have been a vast improvement).
In 20/20 hindsight, Ford was right to pardon Nixon. Bitterness and animosity is almost never healthy, JR’s tirade notwithstanding.
Thus Ford is remembered for being a caretaker. His actual legacy is more than that, of course, but it will be largely forgotten.
Rest in Peace.
VT – I agree that the pardons were the right things to do, even though he got Hell for it.
Uh, no, just cause people have power should not get them a get out of trouble free card. They should be held to HIGHER account.
What happened to all that ‘personal responsibility” ya’ll claim so much?
Ford was the last true republican to like
Carter was a good man who tried to be honest with americans and they didnt’ want it.
Bush is the most miserable failure to ever take the oath after the SC gave him the job
Nice eulogy Political Mom, remind me not to ask you to speak at my funeral.
He wasn’t a bad guy JM, he deserves respect as a former president who has passed.
I really don’t remember Ford that well but I do remember the mess Nixon made. Ford had to clean up after that fiasco and it wasn’t easy to do. I believe Ford was an honest man and at least he was more common than the current ones in office.
But in today’s news, it showed Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld being in Ford’s administration. I didn’t realize Ford had those two bozos in his midst. Like I said, I think Ford was an honest man but his choice for his co-workers leave alot to be desired.
Maybe history is going to repeat itself soon – do I smell impeachment coming soon and the next president will have to use his pardon pen?
God does have a sense of humor. Taking Gerald Ford at just this time in history.
Ford was eminently qualified to be the mayor of some place like Lansing, Michigan.
To be the unelected president of the United States, not so much.
But still, how good a man like Ford, honorable with no agenda, looks compared to our current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave–dishonorable with an agenda to take over Mideast oil from day one.
Worst. President. Ever.
Suza, IIRC, Cheney and Rumsfeld were “holdovers” from the Nixon administration.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. Former President Jimmy Carter is remembering Gerald Ford as “one of the most admirable public servants and human beings” he has ever known.
Carter defeated Ford in 1976. Ford, who died last night, assumed the presidency in 1974 upon the resignation of Richard Nixon because of the Watergate scandal.
Carter called the Michigan Republican “an outstanding statesman” who “wisely chose the path of healing during a deeply divisive time” in America’s history.
If the American people would have listened to Jimmy Carter about alternative fuel, then we would not be in this Iraq mess today. The only thing wrong with Jimmy Carter was he was too honest and too honorable to be in the dirty politics game.
People say they want politicians to be honest but when they get one with morals, they find they don’t want him after all.
Ford was an good president. He knew how to work congress like the current Whitehouse occupant wishes he could. I remmber a televised Ford address where he got out a calender and did a timeline of how long congress had not acted on important legislation. I had never before or since seen such good use of visual aids by a president.
Ford signed into law 94-142 which guarentees all children a right to a public education regardless of handicap/disability.
There were honorable Republicans, they are dying off too quickly.
Thank you, Gerald Ford, for your service and decency.
Dick Cheney was Gerald Ford’s chief of staff.
Ford’s explanation on the pardon was simple. Regardless of it costing him the presidency, he thought it was best for the country. Because, in his words, “there undoubtedly would have been a conviction, and then months if not years of appeals..” Ford wanted to end the nightmare, and even tho it cost him greatly, he accomplished that.
Lucee
you are spot on!!!
Thank you
Ford was the last true honest republican
the rest of the republican party are just repukes
On the final night of the 1976 Republican convention in Kansas City, right after Ford and Dole were nominated as President and Vice President, I was in the crowd of well wishers in front of Kansas City’s Muehlbach Hotel. I and most of that late night crowd were introduced to an elated Gerald Ford by Robert Dole.
One interesting tidbit I remember about Gerald Ford was that prior to being nominated, not only was he a Congressman and speaker of the House of Representatives, he was one of America’s most prolific public speakers. Later that public speaking “mantle” was taken over by Senator Robert Dole.
So, President Gerald R. Ford, thank you for your service and for calming America at that critical time in U.S. history.
I was 8 years old when President Ford visited Russell, Kansas to announce Bob Dole as his running mate. I grew up 20 miles from Russell. I remember my parents driving me past the rows of US Flags that welcomed Ford. I did not get to see Ford, we were and still are democrats so the interest was low. Anyway, I think Ford did the right thing with Nixon. I know sleazebag Cheney would do the same for sleazebag Bush.
It would take a President dying to overshadow the death of James Brown. Both great Americans in their own right.St. Peter is having an interesting week.
Lucee,
In addition to Carter’s alternative fuels, higher mpg.
Reagan in 1985 rolled back CAFE standards, effectively destroying it. ALL the auto companies, except Ford and GM met the standards — Reagan didn’t want those two to pay the fines.
Then came the “light truck” (aka SUV) loophole.
Folks usually forget Ford’s dubious role as part of the Warren Commision whitwashing of the JFK killing.
V.L.R.B!!
Gerald Ford was a good man, and one of the better persons I’ve seen in office in my lifetime.
I don’t understand why anyone would take “pot shots”, use this forum to discredit anyone, or push any political agenda.
Rest in peace, Mr. President. We’re glad to have known you, and thank you for your service in a time of need, involving difficult circumstances.
I did not dislike Ford but his pardon of Nixon made me sick and I voted for Jimmy Carter. Ford was not a bad President but he was not a good President either. He took more of a caretaker roll than a leader roll. He should have not only NOT pardoned Nixon but he should have led the charge for justice.
I don’t understand all the Carter bashing on here. Carter did the best he could with the mess he inherited. And he didn’t lie, cheat or steal the country blind.
I always wondered if “the fix was in” before Ford ever took office. I still think it probably was.
For all the talk of the pardon of Nixon, I’m surprised no one is bringing up the amnesty he gave to Vietnam draft dodgers.His efforts to move the country forward and begin to heal after a tumultous time were bi-partisan.
Republicans love to bash Jimmy Carter because he is a decent and honorable man, unlike their candidates for the past 30 years.
Carter did the best he could do and if we have listened to him about alternative fuel, we would not be in the Iraq mess today. But, no, Reagan had to make sure we got back on the Middle East oil teat and we have been there ever since.
Republicans like to dress themselves up like moral and Godly people but then Jimmy Carter comes along and puts them all to shame. Jimmy Carter is a spiritual man and not a wannabe christian.
the amnesty for draft dodgers had been brought up earlier in this thread. And why do you think that draft dodger is a bi-partisan issue? Are you suggesting more Democrats dodged the draft than Republicans? More to the point – Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and other GOP leaders did not serve in Vietnam but they all got ‘deferrals’ (code word for draft dodging???)
Do you even know the definition of what you are talking about?Bi-partisan = Crosses party lines.His decision was good for both Republicans and Democrats.
Yes I do know what bipartisan means but the way you worded your comment, it was implied that you thought Ford forgave the Democrats for dodging the draft. I merely pointed out that coin has two sides.
The death of any Republican is a cause for celebration!
Youngdem, ick. Double ick, in fact.
As for Gerald Ford, I’ll always remember him as someone who put the good of one man before the good of the Constitution and the nation.
The lawlessness of the Executive branch in the Reagan and second Bush Administrations testifies to the space for misconduct opened up by Gerald Ford’s premature and unjustified pardon of Richard Nixon. To be fair, he probably did not intend this. But to be honest, it has been the result of his actions.
And predictably, we will again see this Republican dynamic of pardoning the guilty and closing the book on misuses of power when Scooter Libby comes to trial.
Bush may have to save a pardon for Cheney too. Or if Bush gets impeached, and they can’t get Cheney, he’ll do the pardoning, for “the good of the country”.
I wasn’t going to broach the subject on this thread, but I heard on CNN that, according to Reagan’s advisors (big grain of salt), Ford would have agreed to appear on the ‘80 ticket with Reagan if Kissinger would be Secretary of State.
If that’s true, then what’s left of his tarnished soul died in entirely preventable Suharto genocide. Scumbag.
http://thismodernworld.com/3416
“The nicest thing that can be said about the dead man is that Gerald Ford wasn’t bugfuck insane, and these days that is not faint praise.”
– The Rude Pundit
heheheheheh rage, good to see you
So we should contrast that statment with, um, the current preznit?
hehehehehehehehehehehehehehhehehehhe
Gimme a break!
The recent comments regarding former President Ford would lead one to believe that he walked on water and had a halo.
Far from it. His pardon of Nixon provided encouragement for all future Presidents when they are tempted to put themselves above the law.
And this after Ford stated “We are a nation of laws and not men. Here the people rule.” Apparently Ford believed that the law applied to everyone except Nixon.
Let’s get him buried, post his mediocre presidency to the history books and move on.