Rusted Sky

Usually I don't use the word courage in conjuction with politicians but this was one man who had it in abundance.

When Gerald Ford gave Richard Nixon a blanket pardon for all illegal acts Nixon might have committed during his term as President Ford knew he was committing political suicide. The marvelous thing was, he did it anyway; simply because he believed that pardoning Nixon and effectively putting an end to the whole Watergate mess by Presidential fiat was the best thing for the country, no matter the cost to himself, his family, or his political career.

Agree or disagree as to the proprieties of his action history seems to side with his assesment of the matter.

The second act of courage on his part was running for election against Jimmy Carter in '76. Ford must have known that he had little chance of defeating Carter and the Democratic Anti-Nixon-and-all-his-works machine but he ran anyway. I believe that Ford knew his campaign for election was fruitless but he did it anyway to allow the last vestiges of Anti-Nixon sentiment to play itself out. When Ford lost to Carter the final dose of medicine the country needed to heal itself from the wounds of the Nixon years was finally administered.

It took 34 years to see that but better late then never.

otpu

Otpu

I remember the media and comedians portraying ford as an oaf and a clumsy fool.

This was exceedingly unfair but I think the papers and TV were so drunk from Nixon bashing they couldn't give up attacking the office of president.

Hammer -

And the hangover from that still continues to this day. Oh, there's been a few presidents they haven't gone after, but it's kind of odd they seem to have a 'D' after their names.

I wish they'd simply stick to the reporting, and stop with the manipulation.

J.

John -

Sometimes it takes a few decades to realize the good of some people. Immediate analysis of events doesn't provide the perspective that you get looking at things twenty, thirty years later, when you can SEE what the results of Presidential decisions actually accomplished.

I predict (going out on a limb here) that Carter's not going to fare particularly well, and Clinton's going to be ranked about with Warren G. Harding. Bush 43 will be middlin' for the next three or four decades, and then depending on what transpires will be seen as astonishingly prescient or a real goat. Think it'll be more the first than the second, though I don't expect to be around to see it...

J.

I heard the story about how President Ford, during WW2, as a LT. in the Navy, survived a typhoon, that killed 800 Sailors, when some of the ships capsized.
Trust me, it is believable. Ford almost got swept off his ship by a wave, some that reached 90 feet high!
The book about that incident is coming out soon...can't recall the title, but It sounds like it's worth a read.
He was a Patriot, and a realist.

It was unfortunate that he lost to Carter, because we would have less problems with Iran now, IMO.
Ford would've backed the Shah.

I don't agree with all his ideas, but he was honest, and truly cared about America.

He was a man of good character, and he did alot of good during his life.

Richard Nixon was forced to find something he had never thought to find in his life: an honest politician. Gerald Ford was one of the last of that class and is typified by his clear statements as to *why* he did things. That did not make him 'right' but it did show honesty, character and integrity when none were seen with Nixon or, indeed, the rest of the political class. He got stuck trying to put two of the Nation's worse episodes to rest: Vietnam and Nixon.

He could do, literally, *nothing* about either. And he saw that continuing the dissension over either would harm the Nation and when he was able to do anything he did so. By not pressing ideology and pressing forward what he saw as necessary for the Nation, he was castigated... and yet, was seen as being on the 'comeback trail' against Carter.

In later years he would share his understanding of his foibles, graciously accepting his mistakes and demonstrate the humility of what it takes to be a good man. Quiet, steady, honest character. Scant few of his kind are left in politics today, and we are the poorer for that.

RIP Gerald Ford.

You deserve a good rest after such a good life.

The book is HALSEY'S TYPHOON, I'm reading it now. Not only that, Ford led a DC party fighting fires on the hangar deck during the height of the storm. It was so rough that the tiedown chains were snapping and the planes were being rammed together as the ship pitched and rolled.

Thanks, James!

Ben:

That must have been a hell of a storm. I'm kind of glad I didn't choose the Navy when I signed up in '74!

J.

AJacksonian:

I've said before that it takes a good couple of decades for presidential decisions to settle out, and it's rather unfair to judge before then.

Of course, there are exceptions - Warren G. Harding and Bill Clinton come to mind, and Jimmy Carter. Don't think we'll see BC or Jimma lionized as either healers or world-changers...

J.

James:

Snapping tiedown chains? Wow! That's something I wouldn't even WANT to be near!

J.