[Speed Gibson,
Wednesday December 27, 2006 at 11:41pm]
Gerald R. Ford
The late Gerald R. Ford was President of the United States from 1974 when Nixon resigned through early 1977 when Jimmy Carter took office. He holds a number of distinctions, including the longest life and the most years after he left office. And by the way, he kept his mouth shut these last 30 years regarding his successors.
As you've no doubt heard, he is the only President to serve without having been elected, either as President or Vice-President. As such, he is also the only President in at least 100 years not to break a campaign promise.
Gerry Ford left me with two key memories: the Nixon pardon and the "Whip Inflation Now" (WIN) buttons. I was very upset with Ford's pardon at the time, but time has since cleared my vision to realize that he did the right thing. There was no point sending Nixon to jail or having an extended trial. It wouldn't have passed the "Global Test" either, as much of the world thought Nixon, an amateur compared to their own crooks, was already getting a raw deal.
Though it rightly holds a permanent place in the Hall of Idiocy, Ford's idea for "WIN" buttons reflected the general ignorance of the times. Nixon before him had tried wage and price controls, a failure like every other attempt to repeal the Law of Supply and Demand. Carter after him said it was our fault, like a crowd at the football stadium all standing up to get a better view, the same view we'd get if we all just sat down. None of them understood the problem, though Carter at least appointed Paul Volcker who did to head the Federal Reserve.
Ford's tenure was an important one, a transition from scandal to normalcy that certainly Spiro Agnew couldn't have hoped to do had he been around. Ford was perhaps the original "amiable dunce" and therefore not at all controversial except for the pardon. That pardon cost him the election in 1976, but without Carter, would Ronald Reagan have been elected in response?
Ford didn't do anything terribly well, nor anything terribly bad. At the same time he was the steady, reassuring hand we needed at the time. Gerald Ford's faith in America and devotion to its principles was never in doubt.
I appreciate and applaud his service to us all.
As you've no doubt heard, he is the only President to serve without having been elected, either as President or Vice-President. As such, he is also the only President in at least 100 years not to break a campaign promise.
Gerry Ford left me with two key memories: the Nixon pardon and the "Whip Inflation Now" (WIN) buttons. I was very upset with Ford's pardon at the time, but time has since cleared my vision to realize that he did the right thing. There was no point sending Nixon to jail or having an extended trial. It wouldn't have passed the "Global Test" either, as much of the world thought Nixon, an amateur compared to their own crooks, was already getting a raw deal.
Though it rightly holds a permanent place in the Hall of Idiocy, Ford's idea for "WIN" buttons reflected the general ignorance of the times. Nixon before him had tried wage and price controls, a failure like every other attempt to repeal the Law of Supply and Demand. Carter after him said it was our fault, like a crowd at the football stadium all standing up to get a better view, the same view we'd get if we all just sat down. None of them understood the problem, though Carter at least appointed Paul Volcker who did to head the Federal Reserve.
Ford's tenure was an important one, a transition from scandal to normalcy that certainly Spiro Agnew couldn't have hoped to do had he been around. Ford was perhaps the original "amiable dunce" and therefore not at all controversial except for the pardon. That pardon cost him the election in 1976, but without Carter, would Ronald Reagan have been elected in response?
Ford didn't do anything terribly well, nor anything terribly bad. At the same time he was the steady, reassuring hand we needed at the time. Gerald Ford's faith in America and devotion to its principles was never in doubt.
I appreciate and applaud his service to us all.