R.I.P. President Ford

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President Gerald Ford has passed away at the age of 93:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061227/ap_on_re_us/obit_ford

I was 8 years old when Ford became president, and to my young mind was the first person I remember being President. I remember lots of talk about watergate in the few months before, but it was pretty confusing talk for a young kid. I could put my arms around the concept of president, though.

From my impressions watching and reading the media, Ford struck me as a nice guy. A decent human being. I remember him as being mocked on Saturday night live for taking a few tumbles, but it didn't dim my impression of him.

In his years out of the presidency, that impression was never tarnished. He still came across as an everyman. A good person who you'd like as your neighbor. (Even Homer Simpson had that pleasure one episode).

An everyman who you'd enjoy as your neighbor. I can't think of a better compliment for someone who ascended to the presidency. He was one of us.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Good summary of President Ford as our nation's leader. National Public Radio's story this morning was excellent. In the brief time he served Ford's two most important accomplishments also served as his chief liabilities:

* Pardoning Nixon.

* Withdrawing from the idiotic war in Vietnam.

It's interesting to notice the similarities to today's issues. Bush will go into the history books as one of the three worst presidents in history precisely because he lied his ass off to force America into a war his father warned would result only in permanent disaster. It will require his successor to do the dirty work of removing America from a no-win war, and that will certainly tarnish him or her. The next president will also have to issue pardons to the principles of the current administration for violating federal laws and commiting war crimes in the bogus "war on terror."

Ford created a new slate for America. He replaced the corrupt Spiro Agnew. He healed America with the Nixon pardon and halted a prosecution that could only have made matters worse. In doing so, he didn't let Nixon off the hook, he let Americans off the hook from having to own up to Nixon's abuses. Nixon will remain in history with W as one of the bottom-feeders of the American Presidency.

Despite his short tenure as vice president and as president, Gerald Ford will be judged as a profile in courage and as a true American statesman. He sacrificed his first elected term as President for the good of the nation.
12:20 PM
Anonymous said…
Anon 12:20 p.m.:

Well said. Jerry Ford was good president and an even better person.

Todd Epp
S.D. Watch
http://thunewatch.squarespace.com
3:39 PM
Anonymous said…
The worst President in my lifetime was Jimmy Carter....by far!!!!

Ford was a very good President.
3:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Did you die in 2000?
8:47 AM
Anonymous said…
Obviously NOT you IDIOT!
4:09 PM
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